Mutu puts troubled past behind him

Romania striker Adrian Mutu said he had put his past troubles behind him after a "horrible" period in his life.

"I'm looking forward for the first time in the past two years," the 27-year-old told Reuters yesterday.

Mutu, sacked by Chelsea in October 2004, served a seven-month ban following a positive test for cocaine.

He joined Juventus in January 2005 but was sold to Fiorentina last month, part of an exodus of top players from the Turin club who were demoted to Serie B for their role in Italy's match-rigging scandal.

"Now, my private life is a quiet one," said Mutu, who has recently married for the second time and has scored seven goals in Fiorentina's four pre-season matches so far.

"I would say that you can see a new Mutu. I felt good at Juventus, but they made a mistake and must pay for it. Fiorentina is a serious club," he added.

Mutu is hopeful of playing a leading role in Romania's Euro 2008 qualifiers and said his problems with coach Victor Piturca were over.

Mutu said he had been temporarily excluded by Piturca for "insubordination" during a three-team tournament in the United States earlier this year.

"I was nervous because of the Juve problems and because I was waiting for the birth of my daughter," he said.

"He (Piturca) understood me and I understood his position too.

"We both know that to qualify with Romania for the 2008 Euro finals is my generation's last chance to play at a major international competition in the past six years."