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"Born-again" Mutu keen to impress
Disgraced striker Adrian Mutu is eager to shed his bad boy image and help Romania win their World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands on Saturday. Mutu, banned for seven months and sacked by former club Chelsea for taking cocaine, said he felt "born-again" as a footballer.
"If the coach (Victor Piturca) names me in the lineup I'll do my best on the pitch," Mutu said on Wednesday after a training session with his national team mates. "I feel as though I was born for the second time and I want to show it in Rotterdam." The 26-year old striker, whose ban ended on May 25, signed a five-year deal with Juventus in January. The Netherlands lead qualifying Group One with 16 points from six matches. The Czech Republic are on 15 from six with Romania third on 13 points from seven. Mutu's team mates said they were delighted by his return for a game likely to decide whether Romania have a chance of qualifying for the finals in Germany next year. "I'm hopeful about Mutu's comeback and I think he will be the same decisive player against Netherlands as he was in the past," said Romania captain Cristian Chivu, who was training separately because of an injured ankle. "Mutu made clear that the bad boy he used to be has disappeared for ever," the AS Roma defender added. Besiktas midfielder Daniel Pancu joined his team mates in praising the striker, who had been treated as a national hero at home after scoring winning goals in earlier qualifiers against Finland and Macedonia. "He remains the player who can make the difference," Pancu said.
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