Genoa defender Daniele Portanova has refused to apologize to AC Milan striker Giampaolo Pazzini after causing the latter’s injury in a clash earlier this month in Serie A.
The Rossoneri defeated the Grifone 2-0 thanks to goals from Pazzini and Mario Balotelli, but the 28-year-old Italian international suffered a micro-fracture to his fibula as a consequence of Portanova’s tackle and missed out on a crucial Champions League match with Barcelona as a result.
However, Portanova believes that it was a fair tackle that normally occurs in games and opined that no apology was necessary since it was not done with any malicious intent.
“It is a shame that he got injured after a perfectly normal challenge, but that is a closed book for me now,” he stated in an interview with Sky Sports Italia.
“This whole story is only a pity for those players who, at the end of the day, are not famous.”
He also went on to take a swipe at the former Inter attacker, describing him as “famous, but weak, and not very courageous.”
Since arriving at Milan from Inter during last summer’s transfer window, Pazzini has made 29 appearances for the Rossoneri, scoring 14 goals in all competitions so far.
