Inter Milan hero Marco Materazzi has lifted the lid on his infamous bust-up with former teammate Mario Balotelli.

Materazzi threw the now Brescia striker up against a wall after the 2010 Champions League semifinal against Barcelona. Balotelli had thrown his shirt onto the ground and was chased into the dressing room by Materazzi.

The former defender recalled: “I gave him a good beating, it's true. I love Mario, but he really deserved it that day. We've become friends again now, practically brothers, but he did something that day that he really should not have done.

“Throwing his shirt to the ground after the final whistle wasn't even the worst of it. Before the game, on the team bus, he told us: 'Today I'm going to play badly,' so I promised to make him pay if he did.

“When he came off the bench, he tried a shot from midfield rather than go on the counter. Diego Milito wanted to kill him. We believed in Mario, he scored many goals and contributed to the victory, but a week after that, I asked Mourinho to put me against Balotelli in the training ground games between ranks. After a few seconds, I'd send him back to the dressing room.

“I really loved his father, as after a game with Rubin Kazan he told Mario: 'I didn't like your performance, you have to play more for your teammates. And stop going around with girls!' What an idol."