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Cape Town - Italy and Toulon prop Martin Castrogiovanni has launched an astonishing tirade at Leicester coach Richard Cockerill after Toulon's defeat to his former club in the European Champions Cup.
RESULTS AND FIXTURES FROM THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP
It was an unhappy return to Welford Road for Castrogiovanni as his Toulon side were beaten 25-21 by the Tigers in their Pool 3 on Sunday.
It was a heated encounter on the field and things remained the same in the post-match press conference as Castrogiovanni lashed out at Cockerill, accusing him of lying over the reasons for his departure.
"I never had the opportunity to defend myself when I left because people talked about this s**t and money and Cockers talks about the money, but the real thing when I left this club is because you have (Dan) Cole and you have me," Castrogiovanni as quote as telling reporters by The Guardian.
"Cole gets paid half the money from the RFU and I am foreign. What the f**k you want? You have a good f**k**g tighthead prop playing for England and a hairy f**k**g Italian.
"The thing is that they made it look like I went for the money but I paid £100 000 from my pocket to leave this club because I want to play rugby. That’s it."
The Italian did acknowledged that Leicester deserved their victory but said he would not engage with Cockerill in future.
"Fair enough they deserved to win today. They played really well and we didn’t play our standard.
"They should play their game of lives.
"I never want to speak with Cockers any more. I am the kind of guy that if I hate you, if you are not clear with me or if you have been a c**t, how you say in English, I never want to speak to you anymore.
"That’s it. That’s how I am. I am not fake.
"If I hate you, I say in your face and I will never speak to you again.
"Love me or hate me. I don’t hate anyone. Peace and love. I just don’t like cu**s.”
The 33-year-old Castrogiovanni played 149 games for Leicester before joining Toulon in 2013. He also boasts 107 caps for Italy.
CLICK HERE to read the full story on The Guardian
