The former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu has told Romanian television that he wants to adopt the baby saved from a sewage pipe in China.

The newborn boy, weighing just 5lbs, was found wedged in the pipe beneath a shared bathroom in a residential building in Jinhua, in China's eastern province of Zhejiang.

His story quickly spread worldwide, with footage of his rescue showing medics at Pujiang People's hospital helping to dismantle the 10cm diameter pipe piece by piece with pliers and saws.

State media said the baby had a low heart rate when he was admitted and had suffered cuts and bruising, but was now in stable condition.

The mother of Baby 59 – known only by the number of his hospital incubator – has since come forward, saying she kept her pregnancy secret after the father refused to stand by her and she could not afford an abortion.

However, Mutu, who signed for Chelsea for £15.8m in 2003, but was released the following year after failing a drugs test, told Romanian channel ProTV: "I intend to adopt this baby."

The AC Ajaccio striker, a father of three, said he had discussed the plan with his wife Consuelo, and they would go ahead, if a legal agreement could be reached. Romania is not currently on the list of 17 countries whose citizens can adopt from China.

Mutu said: "I couldn't figure out how to carry on living, how to eat my breakfast when I saw this story on TV. He's a special child. When I saw the baby I said 'I must adopt him, he has been sent to me by God.'

"Just look at this poor little fellow. He made such a strong impression on me. I told my wife we have to help him, we have to do everything we can.

"I never thought I would adopt a baby, I had no plan concerning that, but I just know: I have to help this one."