Missing Adriano is ´totally lost´: ex-girlfriend

Inter Milan striker Adriano has taken refuge in his home favela in a state of depression after a painful break-up with his girlfriend, his former companion claimed here Tuesday.

Adriano’s whereabouts and wellbeing have been the subject of intense speculation since he went off the radar after appearing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier last week.

Inter have had no contact with the troubled 27-year-old whose absence has led to rumours of kidnapping or problems with drugs.

His Brazilian agent, Gilmar Rinaldi, has denied those theories but he did acknowledge in the local press that Adriano had a “serious” problem which he wanted to resolve before returning to Milan.

His ex-girlfriend, Joana Machado, lifted some of the mystery surrounding the star in an interview with Tuesday’s O Dia newspaper.

She said the player had spent the last few days with his friends in the favela Vila Cruzeiro – one of the most violent districts in Rio, where he was born and grew up.

“It’s in Vila Cruzeiro that Adriano feels comfortable. He likes to fly kites, walk in barefeet. There he doesn’t play the role of The Emperor (Adriano’s nickname),” the 28-year-old told the paper.

Machado added: “Adriano is totally lost, but I no longer have the strength to deal with him.”

She added that Adriano did meet drug traffickers whom he had known since he was a child but categorically denied that he was a user.

“His only drug is beer,” she stated.

“But who doesn’t like a beer from time to time.”

Machado said she had split up with Adriano because of his excessive jealousy.

Such is the concern over the player that the Brazil Football Confederation were moved to issue a statement saying that Adriano was at home with relatives.”