Roberto Gagliardini has denied being the person behind an extra ball ending up on the pitch near the end of the game.

Empoli manager Aurelio Andreazzoli accused the Italian midfielder, who was sat on the substitute bench, of throwing an extra ball onto the pitch so to disrupt the game as Empoli were pushing for an equaliser late on.

“I heard and read the words of Andreazzoli, who I congratulate and wish good luck to for the future, but the accusation he addressed to me is false,” Gagliardini stressed in an Instagram story.

“I would never have allowed myself to do that, neither as a footballer or as a man out of respect for Inter, Empoli and football.”