Adriano delighted to be back playing at Inter

Brazil forward Adriano said he was delighted to pull on the Inter Milan shirt again after a year in which alcoholism and depression threatened to derail his career.

Adriano played at the head of a three-pronged attack in the first half of Inter's 1-0 friendly victory over Saudis Al Hilal on Thursday as coach Jose Mourinho remained loyal to the system he favoured at Chelsea.

It was the 26 year-old's first assignment for Inter since October last year as in November he was sent to Sao Paolo in his native Brazil in a bid to rediscover his shape and form.

That was a success as he scored 16 goals in 25 matches, despite a troubled beginning with the club in which he was dismissed against Santos for a head-butt.

But now he is reaping the rewards.

“I've rediscovered my best condition in little time,” he told the official Inter website. “I feel good and I'm delighted to be back in the team.

“I'll try to come back even stronger than before. It's great to play with three forwards because there's more movement and my fellow forwards are closer together, that encourages you to play quicker which the coach has asked us to do.

“We will be able to score many goals this way. Mourinho? He has a philosophy which is to play those who train with the most commitment and in the best condition.”

Adriano had become one of the most sought-after forwards in football after scoring 28 goals in 42 matches for Inter in 2004/05 following loan spells at Fiorentina and Parma.

But in the 2006/07 season he started to lose his way as injuries and a lack of discipline took their toll.

He was often photographed coming out of nightclubs in the early hours, calling into question his commitment to the cause.

But if he can reproduce his form of old, Adriano's return will be like a new signing for Mourinho.