Inter's Brazil striker Adriano resurfaced Wednesday saying he didn't understand the fuss about him going underground after international duty.
''I'm here at home with my family and I'm fine despite all they've been saying,'' he told Brazilian TV in the wake of reports of sightings in slum dives since he failed to fly back to Milan after two Brazil World Cup qualifiers.
The 27-year-old, who has spoken frankly in the past about his battles with depression and the bottle, dismissed speculation that he had suffered a recurrence of psychological problems.
''I'm in great shape, mentally and physically,'' he said, scoffing at reported problems with girlfriend Joanna Machado who told gossip mags earlier this week she'd ''had it'' with the troubled star.
Some Adriano watchers think the hulking striker's latest indiscipline may be down to unhappiness at not getting a starting spot in Jose Mourinho's Inter line-up, a feeling deepened after being benched twice by Brazil Coach Carlos Dunga.
But former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira told Brazilian TV that he was ''worried about the man, the human being''.
''It's a personal problem that has to be treated, addressed as it should''.
Parreira said he'd nurtured Adriano into becoming ''the best striker in the world a few years back'' and was confident ''he can get that good again but he has to want it''.
