Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio denies he set out to insult the people of Rome during the singing of the national anthem.

There was great debate on Sunday in Italy over whether the player uttered "Roma ladrona" - Rome the thief - during the anthem ahead of Saturday night's friendly with Switzerland.

The phrase has a double connotation, as it is an insult to Rome, but also commonly used to criticise the corruption of Italian politics.

"There was no offensive phrase," assured Marchisio in a statement today.

"Quite simply I just got my timing wrong, so I was out of sync with the band and the movement of my lips didn't match up with the anthem."