"The true players will not flee," snapped Panucci to Controcampo. "The true ones will stay and help the league. The moralising from players like that (Kaka) must stop.

"The players must not give up. We must bring back the celebration of football every Sunday. They do it abroad and we must do the same here.

"If so many countries are capable of such a sporting culture, then we can do the same. We are not second to anyone."