The Coach parted company with the club over the summer and Ballardini was an instant sensation, winning the Italian Super Cup against Inter, but since then has struggled badly and is on the verge of the sack.

“I have never expressed an opinion on a colleague or the style of play of a team that wasn’t my own. This is why I was very annoyed when Ballardini asked what Lazio had done in recent years,” snapped Rossi.

“I could reply qualifying for Europe three times and winning the Coppa Italia. Instead I’ll simply point out he was training Cagliari while my Lazio played Real Madrid.”

He also had some advice for President Claudio Lotito, who has frozen Cristian Ledesma and Goran Pandev out of the squad in a contract dispute.

“Ledesma doesn’t always listen to reason, but with Francelino Matuzalem he forms the best central midfield partnership in Serie A.”

Nonetheless, the Coach has not put the Biancocelesti behind him and continues to keep an eye on them.

“It isn’t right that I sit here going back over my four years at Lazio just to stir up controversy and trouble. With my heart I say that I hope to see them out of this crisis soon.

“I still live in Rome and it’s wonderful that people stop you in the street now not to ask about Tommaso Rocchi or Mauro Zarate, but just to tell you that you’re a good man,” he told Il Messaggero newspaper.