Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits a bust-up involving Edin Dzeko last season was "ugly".

Dzeko clashed with former coach Paulo Fonseca and was frozen out of the first team for a period last term.

“It was an ugly situation for all of us and nobody wanted a split like that to develop," Mkhitaryan told the Corriere dello Sport.

“The positive thing is that we continued working and playing together for the team. We found an agreement and reached the end of the season, with Edin giving us a hand, the way he always does.

“Dzeko is our captain, even without the armband, for his experience, charisma and the way everyone loves him. The armband doesn't matter."