Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has denied physically attacking Sevilla midfielder Papu Gomez last season.

Gomez made the claim yesterday, insisting Gasperini "tried to physically attack me", after the Champions League clash with Midtjylland, for "disobeying" team instructions.

In response, Gasperini told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Gomez's behavior and attitudes, on and off the pitch, had become unacceptable to me and his teammates.

"He lied. The physical assault was his, not mine.

"The real reason he left Bergamo is because he insulted the owners of the club."