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Luiz Adriano 'happy' to leave Shakhtar Donetsk amid Roma rumours

Luiz Adriano has told Copa America's official website he would be "happy" to leave Shakhtar Donetsk in order to improve his chances with Brazil, but says no clubs have yet made a bid for him.

The 27-year-old striker has been in superb form for Shakhtar this season, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League group stage record of nine goals to send the Ukrainian club through the the last-16 of the competition.

The Brazil international has been at the club since 2007, and while he admits a move could be beneficial for his international career, the forward would also be pleased to stay with Shakhtar despite his contract expiring at the end of the ccurrent season.

When asked whether a move away from Ukraine would improve his chances of impressing Selecao coach Dunga, Luiz Adriano replied: "It's always good to have new challenges. Footballers want to win titles, so it would be great if I had the opportunity to leave, but it would also be good to stay as the club welcomed me.

"Shakhtar is a club I love, the club that projected me on the European stage. If I leave, I'll be happy. If I remain, I'll be even happier."

Responding to suggestions that Roma have approached Shakhtar for his services, Luiz Adriano replied: "Officially nothing has arrived for me, only this suggestion of Roma, but I think the only ones who will define this is the club. What is good for us is what they will define."

The forward broke three goalscoring records against BATE Borisov on Oct. 21 -- the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Champions League game; the fastest three goals (seven minutes) in the competition's history; becoming Shakhtar's all-time top scorer -- with his form reportedly attracting interest from the Giallorossi.

Should the striker stay with the Ukrainian club this winter, he will line up against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the last-16 of the tournament -- a challenge Shakhtar are capable of overcoming, says Luiz Adriano.

"They are one of the best teams in Europe," he said. "We have to be very careful and study them hard in order not to be surprised. I do not think that they're impossible to beat. If we manage to level the playing field, we can win."

Having earned a call-up to the Brazil squad last year, Luiz Adriano says that his compatriots at Shakhtar -- 13 Brazilians were registered with the club in September -- have been important in adjusting to life in Europe.

"Our relationship is like that of a family, because we are always together, doing things together on a daily basis," he added. "We speak only in Portuguese during most of the year, between us it's just Portuguese. We almost have a team of Brazilians here.

"Sometimes we meet and have a barbecue. In fact, whenever possible, we are together. Very often there's a little barbecue. We are away from our families, so this is our family, always helping each other."