Romanian striker Adrian Mutu has asked for forgiveness after breaking a man’s nose just a week before making his return to action following a 10-month doping suspension.

Mutu broke a waiter’s nose on Friday night over a dispute about an unpaid bill. The scuffle broke out after Mutu tried to leave a night-club without settling his account.

The waiter approached him to settle up and Mutu, having claimed he had an open tab, punched the waiter on the nose.

The 31-year-old is due to make his competitive comeback this weekend against Catania.

“I want to offer my most sincere and profound excuses to the (Fiorentina) owners, the club, the technical staff, my team-mates and all the fans,” he said in a statement.

“I realise that what happened should never have occurred. I don’t forgive myself, in particular, for having allowed myself to get stupidly involved in an argument from which I should have sought refuge.”