In the mother's face, the certainty of the Emperor's comeback.

Eduardo Peixoto and Clícia Abreu Rio de Janeiro

Upon arriving home and seeing his mother Rosilda, Adriano is certain that abandoning the euros of Inter Milan in search of happiness at Flamengo makes perfect sense. Even with some "buts," such as the daily pursuit by the celebrity industry, the Emperor doesn't hide that his life has changed. After almost a month and a half of silence, the player spoke with GLOBOESPORTE.COM and confirmed that he had heard of European offers to leave Brazil. Politely, he said "thank you very much for remembering," but reiterated his commitment to Flamengo until the 2010 World Cup. His current top scorer status in the Brazilian Championship, with ten goals in 15 games, brings him closer to the Brazilian national team. And so does his physical condition. Adriano is only one kilo overweight, but he's not worried about it.

It's easy to lose with a series of games.

It's difficult to escape the scrutiny of a press eager for news about his private life. That's why he stopped attending large public events. He prefers to do his "little things," as he calls them, at home. Even so, he challenges those who criticize him to prove it:

"To tarnish my image, it has to be something very serious. People are used to me and know my way of thinking." The easy smile and youthful jokes of a 27-year-old "child" won over the Flamengo group. Training after training, the interaction and trust in the team's star grew. Perhaps because he behaves like just another one of them:

"I don't bite," he said, before starting the interview.

Check out the full interview, at the Ninho do Urubu training center:

GLOBOESPORTE.COM: \ European teams are persistently contacting his agent, Gilmar Rinaldi, trying to sign him. Why?\

Hadrian: For now, I came here to Brazil to try and rebuild my life. To be close to my family and the people who care about me. I chose Flamengo because it's my team, where I came from and started to grow. So I'm not thinking about leaving now because I'm happy and I hope to stay for a long time. Only God knows the future, and I'll decide at the right time.

But did Gilmar make any specific offer? There was talk of interest from Milan...

I saw it in the newspapers. Gilmar went to Italy this week to sort out some things I have with Inter, but he didn't tell me anything. I heard about it and I'm very happy to have these offers. It's great to know that I still have this importance in world football. The goal is to continue like this at Flamengo so that when I have to go back there in the future, I'll have a different mindset.

Your contract here ends in 2010. Is it time to talk about renewal?

It's still early. Flamengo is like a home to me, it has welcomed me very well. I'm trying to stay here until 2010 so I can get back on track in football and then, hopefully, things will work out. I'll see in the future. If I have to stay here, I'll stay; if I have to leave, I'll see. But today I'm completely focused on Flamengo.

Dunga left the door open for the Brazilian national team when you get back in shape. Is the moment of your return approaching?

Every day that passes I feel much better. I'm very close to what I can deliver on the field. As Dunga said... everyone knows my football, if I'm in good shape I can help the national team. And I'm happy that he's counting on me. I have to play well here at Flamengo so that I can return.

You recently admitted that you were three kilos overweight. Have you reached your ideal weight yet?

I'm almost there. I just need to lose another kilo. But I'll lose that quickly with the games because we're playing non-stop. The concentration starts practically three days before the match, and that helps because I start eating better and I'm more careful with my diet. I'm not even worried about the weight because it's natural to lose weight with the games. And I'm a guy who loves to train, I always stay after training. I'm getting back into shape. Just a little more patience because it comes naturally.

It's annoying to pick up the newspaper and read: "Adriano was at Salgueiro." I've never even been there.

While you're the top scorer, Flamengo is having an inconsistent season and is languishing in the middle of the table. It's not uncommon for someone to say that the team doesn't deserve such a good striker...

Flamengo has a wonderful group, a wonderful team. I have to help my team. The group is strong. I'm happy to be competing in the Brazilian Championship with them. We have everything to reach the top four and even compete for the title.

\ What's your assessment of these three months at Flamengo?\

If I were to give 100%, I think I'm at 60%. I started out of rhythm, and now I'm beginning to see room for growth. I can do much more, help my team much more. But you have to be patient, work hard so that it can come faster.

And off the field, what benefits has this return brought?

Everything has improved. I was even talking about this with my mother. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It felt like I had a hunchback there (in Italy). And since I came here, that has cleared up. I come to training with the greatest happiness in the world. There's nothing better than being in your own country and doing the job well.

It's annoying to pick up the newspaper and read: "Adriano was at Salgueiro".

What did you leave behind? You had a yacht, a house... how did you resolve these domestic issues?

For now, everything is calm. My boat is there, and so is my little house. It's being well taken care of. I don't think much about the object itself; I think about my personal life. Some of my things are there and are returning to Brazil, but I'll sort things out in time.

Every week it's in the newspapers that Adriano was in Rocinha, in such and such a place. How does he deal with this harassment? Is it worse than he imagined?

That's how I'm saying it. It's a rumor. You have to prove what you're saying. A lot of people speak out of malice. If you want to criticize me for what I did wrong, that's fine. But for what really happened, not for what didn't happen. It's annoying to pick up the newspaper and read: "Adriano was at Salgueiro." And I've never set foot in Salgueiro. Adriano was in such and such a place... I think there needs to be a little more respect. That's why I stopped talking to the press. I was communicating with everyone, but when I see this kind of thing it bothers me. I don't like to talk about it, it's not out of arrogance. It bothers my family. My mother calls in a panic and I have to explain. But I try to handle it, it won't bother me because I have a clear conscience.

And this reputation as a womanizer. Do you have an estimate of how many women you've slept with?

(laughs) What's that, man? I don't have a goal. Are you crazy? I'm a laid-back guy. I really want to find someone to be with, but I know it's hard for people to get close. It's hard to find someone who likes you and not just what you have. I'd rather be single than be with someone who doesn't help me. So, I'll manage, trying to do the best I can, and when I find the right person, I'll relax.

Are you dating anyone?

I'm not dating anyone right now. I really want to be. I hope that person can come along as soon as possible.

But female harassment is prevalent on nights out...

That's true. Believe it or not, I'm not even going out anymore. Even on my days off when we play on Sundays, someone always mentions it. So it's better to stay home, I do my things at home because I have my privacy there.

Do you think you're handsome?

(Laughs) Handsome, no. Nice. I think I am. But I don't know either...

Women think...

Thanks (laughs). But I'm not a very vain guy. I'm normal, I like to get along with everyone and I just go with the flow.

And were the relationships with celebrities complicated?

You have to know how to manage it, but you can't hold back because the pressure is too great. I always got along very well with my girlfriends, I never made anyone suffer because of what I did. We broke up because it just wasn't working anymore. We both talked and came to a conclusion. Nowadays, dating is like marriage, and that complicates things a bit. It ends up ending a relationship that, under normal circumstances, would have worked out.

I walk down the street peacefully and people stop and say that few would do what I did. That's enough.

Do you want to get married in a church?

I don't have that dream, but if the woman I'm with does, it will come true. But I'm not the type of person who likes ceremonies. My mother will certainly love it. I want to get married, but not in a church.

Of these things that have been published about his absence What's true in training? There was even talk of vasectomy...

I want to see if it's true. I've never done that (vasectomy) in my life, for God's sake. To see how rumors are. I only made two mistakes. I admit I didn't show up for training, but I warned them the other two times. I admit what I do wrong and I always listen. I just won't accept it when they put the wrong thing out there. It's not fair. That ends up damaging the person. And to damage my image, it has to be something very serious. People are used to me and know my way of thinking. I explained why I came to Brazil. I already said that on my days off I'll drink my beers with my friends. I don't worry. I go out on the street calmly and people stop and say that few would do what I did. That's enough.

Do you think the atmosphere at the club has improved with the new coaching staff, after Cuca left?

I don't think anyone ever had a serious problem with Cuca. It really depends on the person. With Andrade, we feel better and the group accepted him more easily. I only knew Cuca for a short time and I can't say much about him. But my impression is that the squad accepted Andrade's arrival. He's a wonderful person who likes to communicate with us. It's good for the group, who feel more comfortable expressing their opinions.

In 2007, you acknowledged having problems with alcohol. Have you overcome that now?

The problem I had was because of my father (who passed away in 2004). I started with depression and had that. It doesn't mean I'm okay now. Three years ago, you would look at me and see that I wasn't well. Today I come home, look at my mother, and her expression is different. It means I've turned things around. Every time I talk to my mother and she calls me her son, it's because she's okay. If she calls me Adriano, it's because she's not okay. Today I can say that. I overcame this illness and I'm doing very well. I know I have my limits when it's time off, but that's beside the point. Everyone has their own life, does what they want. I was much more overweight back then because I drank a lot, and that was bad for me. And today, thank God, I'm doing very well.

A happy Adriano?

Absolutely. Always... (laughs)