AC Milan midfield schemer Andrea Pirlo has slammed the state of Italy's grounds.

Pirlo hailed Barcelona's style of football and explained why it's difficult to copy them in Serie A.

He told Gazzetta dello Sport: "It's a pleasure to watch them play. We try to play in that way, but it's not easy, also because the pitches are disgusting.

"Have you seen the grass in Spanish or English stadiums? It's perfect. In Italy there isn't a decent ground. And it's not easy to play on the floor when the ball bounces up to your knee."