Former Parma and Inter striker Adriano has sent a message of support to Simone Biles: ‘I know what you are going through, people should not judge you.’
Biles, an American gymnast and four-time Olympic gold medallist, has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health issues.
“There is more to life than just gymnastics,” she said on Tuesday.
“I have to focus on my mental health. I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now. We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do.”
Her decision sparked mixed reactions worldwide and former Brazilian striker Adriano sent support to the 24-year-old through his social media.
“I know exactly what you are going through,” Adriano wrote.
“It’s not fair people judge you so harshly, just be happy and take care of yourself.
“I have gone through all this too and I am still asking myself why and what happened. May God forgive these bad people.”
Simone Biles… sei exatamente o que está passando e não deixe as pessoas te crucificarem. Seja feliz e cuide da cabeça!
Passei por isso e até hj sou questionado.
Que Deus perdoe essas pessoas ruins pic.twitter.com/ce2SUl4olr
— Adriano Imperador (@A10imperador) July 28, 2021
Adriano was just 22 in 2004 when his father died from a heart attack. He was informed about his father’s passing during the pre-season with Inter.
Adriano had joined the Nerazzurri in January and was considered one of the most promising strikers at that time.
He had netted six goals in 15 appearances with Fiorentina and 26 in 44 games with Parma before completing a permanent move to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
“The death of my father left a huge void in me,” the former striker admitted later on to Brazilian magazine R7.
“I was alone, sad and depressed in Italy and that’s when I started drinking. I did not know how to hide it because I was drunk even at training.”