Brazilian striker Adriano has revealed that alcohol troubles were behind his departure from Inter Milan and even admitted that he would often turn up to training drunk.
The 27-year-old left Inter by mutual consent in April after a torrid eight years at the San Siro and returned to his homeland to play for Flamengo.
Adriano told R7: "After the death of my father I fell into a depression that I only managed to cure with alcohol.
"I was only happy when I was drinking and I never stopped. I went out every night and drank whatever happened to be in front of me, wine, whisky, beer... a lot of beer.
"Every day I would present myself drunk during training sessions.
"I couldn't sleep for fear of being late but at the end I arrived in unpresentable conditions anyway so they used to send me to sleep in the infirmary while they told journalists that I had some muscle problems."
He added: "People think it was madness to give up the millionaire's contract that I had but the truth is that there is not enough money to compensate for family.
"I gave up so many millions but I bought happiness."
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The 27-year-old left Inter by mutual consent in April after a torrid eight years at the San Siro and returned to his homeland to play for Flamengo.
The hitman admits that he sunk into depression and ultimately alcoholism after his father died of a heart attack in August 2004, but reflected that his move back to Brazil seems to have fixed things for him.
Adriano told R7: "After the death of my father I fell into a depression that I only managed to cure with alcohol.
"I was only happy when I was drinking and I never stopped. I went out every night and drank whatever happened to be in front of me, wine, whisky, beer... a lot of beer.
"Every day I would present myself drunk during training sessions.
"I couldn't sleep for fear of being late but at the end I arrived in unpresentable conditions anyway so they used to send me to sleep in the infirmary while they told journalists that I had some muscle problems."
He added: "People think it was madness to give up the millionaire's contract that I had but the truth is that there is not enough money to compensate for family.
"I gave up so many millions but I bought happiness."
Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
