Inter Milan ready to sever Adriano's contract

(GETTY IMAGES)

Inter Milan appear ready to sever their contract with Adriano after the Brazil striker deserted the club earlier this month.

Inter has already reached an agreement with Adriano's agent, Gilmar Rinaldi, and needs only to register the move with the league office, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported today.

After the last break for national team play, Adriano announced in Brazil that he was taking a break from football after cutting off contact with his coaches and teammates for three days.

Adriano joined Inter in 2001. After loan spells with Fiorentina and Parma, he scored 29 goals in his first full two seasons with the Nerazzurri in 2004-05 and 2005-06, but has struggled with his form since. He moved to Sao Paulo on loan for the second half of last season and returned to Inter for the start of this campaign, but did not find his stride under new coach Jose Mourinho.

In all, Adriano scored 74 goals in 177 matches in all competitions with Inter.

His contract was due to expire in June, 2010.