In an interview with Polish media "tvp" on January 9, Adrian, who is playing for Henan Songshan Longmen in the 2022 season, introduced his recent plans and commented on Chinese soccer and the impact of Crow joining the Saudi League.
--Did you guys get a lot of offers?
I received offers from Canada and India, but I never make choices lightly. I was not interested in those offers. I don't want to put extra pressure on myself. I want to spend as much time as possible with my family and end my career in Poland. I received three offers from China to stay at my initial club for a year. I don't want everyone to think I'm difficult to get along with and that everywhere doesn't suit me, but I want to play the way I want to. Going to Canada and India to play soccer requires a long flight, so I turned it down immediately. I'm 37 years old, so I can't get 50 offers to start my career. If there is no interest.
-- With Chinese Super League supremo Guangzhou relegated to the Central League, have there been many problems in Chinese soccer in recent years?
Since the new Crown Pneumonia pandemic, everything has gone downhill. Most of the club's sponsors are developers who run their own businesses, but the epidemic has left a deep mark on them. Many foreigners chose to leave and decided not to return due to the quarantine policy. Add to that the nucleic acid, the closure, and the playing system, and the fans couldn't see it. The club earned less from the rights broadcast on TV and zero income from fans. It was a tough time. Hopefully everything will bounce back now. Guangzhou are mainly young players now, and it's a shame they didn't get relegated. But next season, they still have a chance to play in the Chinese Super League like Hulkar.
--Has the Chinese view of soccer changed?
Now I see positive changes. They were eager for the soccer game. After such a long break, the stadium is packed. In the last three years, Chinese fans couldn't watch the game on the spot and the team played every three or four days. I think everything is slowly returning to normal now. Fans and sponsors are coming back every Monday. I hope everything will be normal in 2023.
-- Are you guys surprised that Crowe chose to play in Saudi Arabia at the end of his career?
Of course I'd be surprised if he went anywhere else in the world. Everyone wanted him to stay at a top club in Europe, and he himself wanted to return to Real Madrid or join a team that could play in the Champions League. However, I understand his final decision. I also played for Riyadh. I'm not surprised he chose Riyadh over Sporting Portugal's offer. It will be an interesting journey for him. When we see his joining ceremony, he will be loved there and he should be happy. His joining will help the whole league as his transfer will lead to more players in the future.
