Adriano's Highlights Between 2004 And 2006 Are Insane, He Was Unplayable On His Day

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a teammate of his at the Nerazzurri, rates 'The Emperor' incredibly highly and says he had everything in terms of attributes.

He told SPORTbible: "I played with great champions. I played with players that were already...wow. I played with players that I saw were a talent and became...wow, but the one I felt could do it longer, and he didn't do it, was Adriano when I was at Inter. He could shoot from every angle, nobody could tackle him, nobody could take the ball, he was a pure animal."

Persistent off the field problems and his unhealthy lifestyle culminated in a huge fall from grace for Adriano.

"Only I know how much I suffered," Adriano told R7 in Brazil.

"The death of my father left a huge hole. I felt alone and I isolated myself when he died. I was sad and depressed in Italy, and that was when I started to drink.

"I didn't stop drinking and in the end I had to leave Inter.

"I didn't know how to hide it, I arrived drunk in the morning for training sessions. I always showed up, even if I was completely drunk and the medical staff had to take me to sleep in the infirmary.

"Inter told the Press I just had muscular problems. I later realised that the problem was the people around me, friends who did nothing but take me to parties with women and alcohol, without thinking about anything.

"By going back to Brazil I gave up millions, but I gained happiness."

Last year, it was reported that Adriano sold his £1.2 million mansion and moved straight into the presidential suite at Grand Hyatt in Barra do Tijuca, an upmarket area in Rio de Janeiro.

He left the majority of his belongings in house but made sure to bring all of his trophies, medals and other important personal items with him to the hotel.

Four Serie A