Adriano a law unto himself at Flamengo

It is difficult to know whose credibility has taken a greater battering from Adriano's recent catalogue of off-field controversies. The player himself or Flamengo, the club that gave him his "last chance" by offering the troubled 30-year-old a contract in August. "I know that I can't waste this opportunity because it will be the last one I get," Adriano said upon signing for the Rio outfit following his second Achilles tendon operation in two years. Adriano's shot at redemption came less than six months after the former Inter Milan and Roma forward was sacked by Corinthians for allegedly missing 67 physiotherapy sessions. More than 2 months have passed and Adriano's comeback pledge now seems about as empty as his recent goal-scoring tally. He remains considerably overweight and is yet to even be considered by coach Dorival Junior for a place in Flamengo's match-day squad. The latest in a series of scandals erupted on Friday when a video of Adriano in an incoherent state was posted on the internet. The footage was reportedly recorded at a party in a Rio slum on Thursday night, just hours after he missed a compulsory training session "for personal reasons" . He also failed to attend training on Friday. Adriano, who was told in August that three infractions would be enough to have his contract rescinded, has now missed six training sessions in 10 weeks. It makes a mockery of Flamengo and Adriano's repeated "last chance" claims and brings into question the credibility of a club that allows a player to seemingly act without reproach. Dorival on Friday gave the impression the fallen star would again be shown leniency. "His absence from training doesn't take away the possibility that he could return to playing before the end of the year," Dorival said. "The matter will be dealt with next week by the club's directors. We have to allow him time. I understand what he is going through and he needs support from everybody." Flamengo is currently 14th in Brazil's Serie A championship standings with five matches remaining in the season. Victory against Figueirense on Saturday would all but guarantee the Rubro-negro's top-flight survival after a tumultuous season that saw 2-time FIFA world player of the year Ronaldinho quit and sue the club for unpaid wages. Adriano's future is less clear, although his seeming impunity suggests a contract extension is not out of the question, even if he fails to play before December. The tumult at Brazil's most popular club may have only just begun.