Jose Mourinho has revealed that he would not stand in Adriano's way if the striker asked to leave Inter.
Inter boss looking to offload troubled striker
Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he would not stand in Adriano's way if the striker asked to leave the San Siro.
The Brazilian frontman has been plagued by personal problems during the last two seasons and it appears that his manager has now had enough.
After Inter signed the player in 2001/02 he enjoyed successful spells on loan at Fiorentina and most noticeably with co-owners Parma.
The Serie A champions responded by signing the 26-year-old to a four-year contract but after an explosive 2004/05, which yielded 28 goals in all competitions, Adriano has come in for criticism for his erratic lifestyle.
With just 29 goals in the last three-and-a-half seasons it now seems that Adriano is surplus to requirements at Inter.
"Club president Massimo Moratti and I want him to stay. However, if he asked me to leave I would not oppose it," explained Mourinho.
"He has ten years of football left to play."
It appears that the club, and Mourinho in particular, have grown tired of the constant speculation regarding the Brazilian's supposed party antics, with Inter once having to deny that the player turned up to training under the influence of alcohol.
Problems
The former Flamengo ace returned to his homeland in a loan deal with Sao Paolo last season in a bid to overcome his ongoing personal problems.
But after his six-month stay in Brazil, Adriano's old problems resurfaced and he found himself left out of a number of games by Mourinho earlier in the season.
The striker is currently back in Brazil recovering from a thigh injury but it seems his Portuguese manager believes his career lies elsewhere.
"I don't know if he will be able to free himself from the tag that has been placed on him," added the former Chelsea boss.
"It is certainly difficult. I believe that a change of scenery could be positive for him. When I arrived, people said that a coaching change would be good for him.
"At the beginning it was but then Adriano's continuity was not 100 per cent.
"A player, in order to become a great professional, must never need his coach to control him.
"Adriano needs a tutor, someone who is close to him, whether it's a friend, a team-mate or a family member, and this I do not like."
