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| Tuesday 22 April, 2008 |
| Blog: Fiorentina's fenomeno |
| Three years ago his career was on the rocks, but now Adrian Mutu is one of European football's top players. Richard Godden salutes the Viola ace |
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If Fiorentina can book a UEFA Cup Final date with either Bayern Munich or Zenit St Petersburg on May 14 then it will largely be thanks to the efforts of Adrian Mutu. The Romanian ace has looked destined for greatness ever since he netted 18 times in a season for Parma back in 2002-03, but for some reason or another it has taken longer than he would have hoped to reach the top of his game.
His move to Chelsea played a big part in that, as he self-destructed in West London and cost himself the best part of a season due to a drugs ban. But in Florence - via a season in Turin with Juventus - the 29-year-old has enjoyed something of a renaissance. He has got 32 Serie A goals in the past two campaigns, with four matches still left to play, and has become the talisman for a side who could easily have gone into their shell following the sale of previous standard-bearer Luca Toni last summer.
But whilst Mutu has undoubtedly been the star man in the Viola's charge for a place in next season's European Cup - a feat which edges ever closer with each passing game - he can also lay claim to being the best player in the UEFA Cup this term.
His six goals might trail Toni's 10 for Bayern, but Fiorentina's path to the last four has been infinitely more difficult, with a Champions League quality opponent seemingly waiting around every corner. But for his three strikes against PSV, including a magnificent free-kick from over 30 yards out at the Philips Stadion, there is no doubt in my mind that Fiorentina would be sitting at home twiddling their thumbs on Thursday night.
Instead, they will be taking on Glasgow Rangers, a side who should finish the season as Scotland's best team. Although Gers possess defender Carlos Cuellar - recently voted SPL Player of the Season - I fully expect Mutu to run him ragged at Ibrox in the key individual tussle of the tie.
So if it all pans out as most pundits expect, then it will be Bayern Munich v Fiorentina in the Final - or, as some might put it, Toni against Mutu. The two clubs could also meet in the Champions League next season, so let's hope that the Viola's No 10 doesn't 'do a Toni' and depart the Stadio Franchi with the club on the verge of something great…
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