Rome - The return of Inter Milan striker Adriano from Brazil remained uncertain Monday with his agent quelling rumours that the footballer had been arrested.

Adriano, 27, remained in Brazil after being in the squad for two 2010 World Cup qualifiers over the past week. He failed to board a scheduled flight for Italy on Friday and did not communicate his decision to his agent and Inter.

His agent Gilmar Rinaldi, however, was quoted as telling the Brazilian network TV Globo that "there is nothing true" about rumours that Adriano had been arrested for being in a party with some wanted criminals.

"They are all crazy," Rinaldi said. "Adriano is in Rio (de Janeiro) at home with his family."

Rinaldi also said that the footballer watched the city derby between Flamengo and Fluminense on Sunday.

Adriano had already delayed his return from Brazil in January after the Serie A winter break, receiving a fine of
150,000 euros (203,000 dollars) from Inter.

Adriano has suffered from alcohol problems and depression over the past two years. Brazil coach Dunga kept him on the bench in games played against Ecuador on March 28 and Peru on Wednesday, but Inter coach Jose Mourinho didn't want to dwell on his personal problems.

Adriano, meanwhile, was quoted as saying last week that "I'll decide with calm whether to renew my contract with Inter, which expires in 2010." (dpa)