Graziano Pelle kicked out of Italy squad in disgrace for refusing to shake manager’s hand
GRAZIANO PELLE has been kicked out of the Italy team and sent back to China after refusing to shake the hand of manager, Giampiero Ventura.
The former Southampton striker was replaced by Ciro Immobile after an hour of the Azzurri's 1-1 draw with Spain in Turin.
And, as he was coming off, he snubbed the outstretched hand of Ventura and will now miss Sunday’s World Cup qualifier.
Aware of his error, Pelle had earlier taken to Instagram to apologise for his petulance.
Alongside an image of the starting XI, the Shandong Luneng striker posted: “Yes! Unfortunately, I have once again messed up.
“It was completely unacceptable behaviour in front of, primarily, the boss, but, consequentially, also my team-mate, who have always shown important values within a fantastic Italian group of which we are part of.
“As with every serious error, there will be consequences.
“And it completely correct that I take responsibility for my actions.”
Pelle was a regular under former Italy boss Antonio Conte — benefiting from the indifferent form of Mario Balotelli.
He scored twice at Euro 2016 — against Belgium and Spain — but became a figure of ridicule after dismal penalty miss in the quarter-final defeat to Germany.
He moved to Shandong in the summer for £12million and became the fifth-highest paid footballer in the world.