Alcoholism nearly cost Cicinho his career

FLORENCE, ITALY – DECEMBER 04: Cicinho of AS Roma dejected during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and AS Roma at Stadio Artemio Franchi on December 4, 2011 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 2 (IANS) Former Brazil defender Cicinho has admitted his alcohol addiction almost cost him his career in football.

The 32-year-old, now playing with Brazilian Serie A club Sport, said his time at Real Madrid and Roma was wasted by an inflated ego and “out of control” lifestyle, reports Xinhua.

“When the aeroplane took off for Madrid my head went with it,” said Cicinho, whose spell at the Bernabeu coincided with the Galacticos era of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldo.

“I let fame get to me. It went to my head and I broke all limits. I wanted to be the owner of everything.”

“I would get to a bar that was shutting and tell the guy to reopen so that I could drink the place dry.”

Cicinho was traded to Italian Serie A outfit Roma after just one season at Real Madrid.

He managed only 63 first-team appearances with the Giallorossi as he battled a succession of injuries and off-field controversies.

The right-back almost quit football after being released by Roma in May this year. But he has since rediscovered his passion for football and life following his marriage to longtime girlfriend Mari.

Cicinho last month signed a contract with Recife-based Sport and is free of alcohol for the first time in more than a decade.

“The love Mari and I have for each other made me fall in love again with life,” Cicinho said. “It made me realize that I can’t waste the talent that God gave me to play football.”