Whilst it is widely being reported that Brazilian star Adriano's days at Inter Milan are over, teammates like Mario Balotelli have spoken in defence of the striker. Balotelli told Sky Sport Italia: "It is a strange time for him and as a friend I would tell him to train as he was before."

"He needs to wait for his chance and then we will see what he wants to do in January.

"Even my mum sometimes criticises him and I always tell her that she doesn't know him so she shouldn't judge.

"Adriano is a great lad who doesn't mean any harm to anyone and I don't know why the newspapers always take against him."