Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini has spoken about his frustrations when previously sharing the same changing room with international teammate, Mario Balotelli.
Chiellini did not hold back as he described Balotelli as “a negative person” who had a bloated image of himself.
Chiellini and Balotelli were Italy team-mates for several years, when Balotelli was a maverick striker who looked set to achieve great things in the sport.
“Balotelli is a negative person, without respect for the squad,” Chiellini wrote in a new autobiography.
“At the Confederations Cup, in 2013, he didn’t give us a hand in anything, stuff that deserves a slap,” he said.
During the tournament in question, Balotelli scored twice, including a penalty, in the group stage, before a thigh injury ruled him out of the semi-final against Spain. Italy lost on penalties.
Balotelli was a Milan player at the time and has since had spells with Liverpool, Nice and Marseille, with Brescia the latest stop-off in a varied career.
The 35-year-olf Chiellini then took the time to assess his time with another former teammate, Felipe Melo whom he described as a ‘bad apple’.
Brazilian midfielder, Melo, was Chiellini’s teammate between 2009 and 2011.
“Even worse was Felipe Melo: the worst of the worst.”
“There was always a fight with him. I also told the managers: he’s a rotten apple,” Chiellini revealed.
He backed up his comments in an interview with Saturday’s La Repubblica newspaper, saying.
“I confirm it, but I have no grudge and nor am I interested in having one. If I have to share something with them, I will.
“I’m not everyone’s best friend, but they are the only two who have gone beyond an acceptable limit.
“For me, the problem is not if you play well, badly or if you sometimes have an evening out, but if you lack respect and have nothing inside.
“Once, it’s fine, if it’s recurring, it’s not,” he said.
