Inter Milan's coach Jose Mourinho was Wednesday in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte to watch the match between Brazil and Argentina in the South American qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the dpa reported.
The Portuguese Mourinho said he planned to "scout" six Inter Milan players set to be on the pitch later Wednesday - striker Adriano, goalkeeper Julio Cesar and right-back Maicon, wearing the Brazil shirt, and centre-back Nicolas Burdisso, fullback Javier Zanetti and striker Julio Cruz, in the Argentine squad.
However, Mourinho told the television channel ESPN Brasil that Adriano is the main focus of his presence at the Mineirao stadium.
The striker has recently been on loan at Sao Paulo and did well enough to earn a return to the national team, following a period of poor form and personal problems - complete with drunkenness and late nights - that marred his performance at Inter in the 2006-2007 season.
Mourinho admitted that whatever he saw Wednesday at the stadium might determine his decision to keep Adriano for the upcoming season in Serie A.
"I am curious about Adriano, it will be an important decision relative to his future. He is a young player with a great potential. I like to look players in the eye, to listen and to say what I think in order to make a decision that is good for me, for the player and for Internazionale," he said.
However, Mourinho admitted that Adriano is not the only reason behind his presence in Brazil.
"I like football with feeling and aggressiveness - in the good sense of the word. I always like to come to South America to watch important games. At today's, I can bring together what is useful and what is nice. It will be pleasant to watch a great game and it will be useful to see in action six players from my future club," he explained.
"I want to get to know them better. I will be able to talk to them for a few minutes," Mourinho noted.
He further admitted that he is "obsessed" with having some of the players he coached in the past join Inter.
"I am not very nostalgic, but I am grateful to those who helped me do important things. I will not forget Deco, Drogba, Lampard. But working with them in the future will be a logical consequence of events," Mourinho stressed.
"I am not a guy who takes six players with him when he leaves a club. I would not say no to players who were fundamental in my career, but I am not obsessed to say that it is those I want," he said.