Unhappy Adriano to take a break

Brazil and Inter Milan striker Adriano said on Thursday he was taking a break from football and would rethink his career. "I've lost the happiness of playing," the 27-year-old said. "I wouldn't like to go back to Italy, I want to live in peace here in Brazil."

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Brazil and Inter Milan striker Adriano said on Thursday he was taking a break from football and would rethink his career. "I've lost the happiness of playing," the 27-year-old said. "I wouldn't like to go back to Italy, I want to live in peace here in Brazil."

"I don't know if I'm going to stay for one, two or thee months without playing. I'm going to rethink my career."

He denied he was suffering from depression, added that happiness was more important than money, and said he had been living with the pressures of being a professional footballer since he was a teenager.

The powerful forward has struggled with fitness and alcohol problems since the 2006 World Cup, showing only flashes of the form that made him one of the world's most feared predators. Adriano failed to return to Italy after last week's World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Peru. Agencies