The 26-year-old has endured a difficult season with the Nerazzurri and has been linked with a return to Brazil.

All parties have claimed that a move is not on the cards but speculation increased when Adriano failed to show at Inter's first training session following the winter break.

The club released a statement indicating that he was undergoing medical tests but reports in Italy suggest the striker did not arrive back in Italy until the evening.

However, Mourinho, who had a brief chat with the Brazilian at the beginning of today's training session, laughed off suggestions of a new problem with Adriano.

"Is he going to Flamengo? To do what? You go to Brazil for a holiday," joked the Portuguese coach, who himself spent Christmas in Rio de Janeiro.

"What was I saying to him earlier? That Julio Cesar invited me to Rio and I called him to go with him to dinner with our families. But he always had his phone off.

"He left me alone in Rio. Let's see if I will do the same in Lisbon."

Adriano was left out of Inter's team for five games earlier this season after a disagreement with coach Jose Mourinho.

Moreover, earlier this month Inter were forced to deny media speculation that the player had turned up to training under the influence of alcohol.

Adriano is currently recovering from a thigh injury but Mourinho is confident he will be fit when the Serie A season resumes.

"He worked with (fitness coach Gian Nicola) Bisciotti today," he added. "Because after a long layoff it's not easy to work with the team.

"Tomorrow he will also work apart, we'll do that until he's ready to work.

"When will he return to playing? It could happen in one of our next three games if he reacts well."

Inter are enjoying another good season and are odds-on favourites to claim a fourth successive Serie A title.

They are also in the last 16 of the Champions League, but Mourinho insists there is still room for improvement.

"We have to improve in everything," he said. "We have to improve tactically and also from a psychological point of view.

"I am never satisfied.

"Moreover, we are only halfway through the season and everything could still be exceptional, more simply positive or even absolutely negative.

"For that reason we have to play better, with more intensity, more quality."

Inter have been pitted against one of Mourinho's old adversaries from his days at Chelsea in the Champions League, defending champions Manchester United.

The former Porto coach knows it will be a tough match but is relishing the challenge.

"I'm not saying that I like it because it is easy or because I am sure we will win, I'm not an idiot," continued Mourinho.

"They are the champions of Europe and of the world, what makes me happy about this clash is that my work is easy: it's a game which doesn't need anything, I don't have to encourage the players or rally the fans."