Rome  - Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu has suggested to make a donation to organizations assisting drug addicts instead of paying a massive fine to Chelsea, who in 2004 fired and sued him for use of cocaine.

The world ruling body FIFA this year sentenced Mutu to pay 17 million euros (24.5 million dollars) to the English club, but the footballer has maintained that he will never be able to pay such an amount.

The ANSA news agency reported Tuesday that Mutu, who is now at Serie A side Fiorentina, wrote to Chelsea and FIFA that he is willing to pay a lower amount to charities in Italy, England and in his native Romania.

"With this move, I don't mean to do a simple donation," Mutu wrote, "but show, together with Chelsea, that our environment is able to remember the true social and international function of sport and that it can overcome its conflicts to help young people who failed because of wrong educational messages, which have also come from sport."

Mutu said that he respects any verdict, but he disagrees with the factual and juridical reasons on which his sentence was based and will continue his battle to defend his rights.

Beside his legal woes, Mutu, 30, has not been able to begin the season with Fiorentina or to play with his national team as he nurses an injury in his right thigh. He should be fit to play again next week.  dpa