Ex-Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli In Zlatan Ibrahimovic 'Gypsy' Slur

Former Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has hit out at Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and he has demanded the club be handed back the Scudetti that were revoked in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal.

Gigli stepped down from his role as president last week, and has used his freedom to speak his mind on the issues he faced during his three years at the club. Gigli is particularly sour with players who left the club, claiming they jumped ship when it started to sink, rather than help to keep it floating.

"I found myself in the middle of court room trials and we had to rebuild the team. Some stayed loyal to the cause, but others left. That nice gypsy Ibrahimovic gave up on us, then he revealed himself to be a gypsy later on, albeit a nice one," Gigli told Tuttosport.

Juventus were stripped of two titles during the Calcipoli scandal - Scudetti Gigli feels should be restored to their rightful owners.

"After the first sentence which was Serie B and minus 30 points I wasn't scared," added the Italian.

"I am a man who follows the rules, even though my heart bleeds. We won 29 Scudetti on the pitch. We cannot ask for anything, but if the trials ended in a certain way, the Italian FA could give us back one of those two Scudetti."

Former Juventus directors Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo received bans from the game following the 2006 scandal. Gigli believes both men were put through the hoops excessively.

"I think their punishments were excessive," added Gigli.

"Yes, there were things that were not right in the old Juventus, but venial facts lead to mortal sins."

Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com