Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli says he's lost all respect for Roma captain Francesco Totti after their Coppa Italia clash.

Totti was sent-off for a horrible kick out at the young striker after the pair had exchanged verbal barbs.

"Totti's insults hurt me more than the kick I received," the Inter striker told Vanity Fair.

"He was someone I admired. I have no problems controlling myself. I have never hurt anyone or reacted physically to provocation.

"I will admit I can use words to hit back, but if it does happen then I do admit to it. Real men don't hide behind someone else. I cannot say that same about Totti."

The Roma star claimed Balotelli had continually provoked him, calling him 'granddad' and suggesting his career was finished. In turn, Balo insisted Totti used a racist epithet - something the veteran absolutely denied.

"I just told him something like: 'Are you going to keep playing or act like a baby?' He replied with a racist term," alleged Balotelli.

"Then I heard him tell Thiago Motta: 'Now I'll break him.' I smiled and walked away. After that, I got kicked. I didn't even understand at the time, it was only watching the footage that I realised how he kicked me.

"In any case, the insult hurt me more than the kick. Totti was someone I admired."