Inter playmaker Hernanes has apologised to Lazio fans for using his trademark somersault celebration after scoring against his former club on Sunday evening.

The Brazilian international scored twice in a heated 2-1 win for the Nerazzurri in which the Aquile had two men controversially sent off.

The celebration infuriated many of the Lazio supporters who saw it as a sign of disrespect, and Hernanes took to Facebook to clarify his intentions.

“I want to apologise to all the Lazio fans because if I had known beforehand that my somersault would be interpreted as a lack of respect for you, I would never have done it!”

The midfielder said after the match that the celebration was intended as a gesture of defiance towards Lazio President Claudio Lotito.

“There was a reason and I have already said what it was! But perhaps it was not so noble! Okay, pride sometimes leads you to do things that even you don’t understand!

“But I am sure of one thing - I have never lacked respect for you, even when you whistled at me when I was still wearing the shirt of Lazio and wasn’t playing so well! And it wasn’t now either, when I did something like this!

“And if you look closely I didn’t celebrate when I scored against you in San Siro, I didn’t celebrate when I scored the second goal yesterday and even the somersault was a sad somersault without any joy! But I repeat - please excuse me and I am so sorry for what happened!”