Brazil striker Adriano, who has a history of off-field problems, missed Flamengo's practice on Friday and will not play in their next two matches, an official of the Rio club said.

"Adriano has a personal problem. He's going to resolve that problem by Sunday and then train hard all week to recover his form," Flamengo vice- president Marcos Braz told Brazilian television on Friday night.

"Adriano's problems are notorious and well known," added Braz without saying why the player, who had a drinking problem during his time at Inter Milan, had missed Friday's practice.

Adriano, who almost quit football a year ago over his personal problems in Italy, had been due to return to Flamengo on Friday after playing for Brazil in Tuesday's World Cup warm-up against Ireland in London.

However, he did not turn up and was dropped for Saturday's Carioca championship game against Resende and Wednesday's Libertadores Cup match away to FC Caracas.

Adriano helped Flamengo to win the Brazilian league title last year.

--Reuters, Rio de Janeiro