Inter Milan's troubled striker Adriano has for the first time spoken of the personal problems which have recently hurt his career.
In an interview with Sky Italia, the Brazil centre-forward admitted being led astray by unsuitable associates and revealed depression and alcohol woes had been so bad he would drink himself into a stupor to get to sleep.
Adriano said he had been happier as a shanty-town child in Rio.
But the 25-year-old, who made a rare reappearance in Inter's 2-0 win over Catania on Sunday, vowed to regain his place among the world's most feared strikers.
"I lost a year and a half of my life," Adriano told Sky.
"Too many things pushed me down and I couldn't keep my problems off the field. I couldn't get to sleep or do anything positive. I thought about my problems too much and I had to drink just to get to sleep," he said.
"But I totally do not want to start doing those things again, and I'm doing all I can to become what I was before".
Adriano, who lost his father 18 years ago, said his mood had recently received a huge boost by the arrival of his mother and son from Brazil.
"All my family has been important to me, always - my brother too.
"They've warned me that I'm too good-hearted, and that's the problem, at the end of the day. Too many people have been trying to take advantage of me".
"I like fooling around, having fun. But when I'm sad I feel something wrong inside".
"I once told Mum we were happier when we had nothing. That's the God's honest truth, I'll tell you. Money can help you in many ways but when you're in a bad way money doesn't help at all".
Inter Chairman Massimo Moratti responded to Adriano's heart-on-sleeve interview by repeating that the club would stand by its former star.
"It's hard to change your lifestyle. We'll give him all the help he needs," Moratti said.
He added: "I'd keep Adriano even if he were just 50% fit. He'd still make a difference".
Last month Inter tried in vain to get Adriano to agree to a loan as a chance of regaining his scoring touch and eventually reclaiming a starting place in the Italian champions' striker-heavy line-up.
Adriano has had a disappointing two seasons at Inter and fallen down the pecking order behind Sweden's Zlatan Ibramihovic, Argentina's Hernan Crespo and Julio Cruz, and new signing David Suazo of Honduras.
He was not even named in the squad for this season's Champions League campaign - which got off to a poor start in Istanbul Thursday with a 1-0 defeat to Fenerbahce.
Adriano joined Inter in 2001 but was loaned to Parma and then Fiorentina in the following three seasons.
He has played 99 times for Inter, scoring 43 goals.
But he only found the net five times last season.
His work ethic was questioned amid reports of a disco-going lifestyle and late-night complaints from neighbours.
For Brazil, he has an amazing strike rate of 25 goals in 36 appearances.
