Diego Forlan denies he refused to enter the field for Inter Milan in their draw with Atalanta on Sunday.

News of Forlan's behaviour has been condemned by pundits and ex-players this week.

"The Coach has explained what went on," the 32-year-old Uruguayan international stated. "I have never refused to come on and I never will.

"As you know, I've always played up front, but I'm always at the service of the team and what I enjoy most is playing.

"The media put a negative spin on what happened - even though Ranieri explained it."

Ranieri is understood to have asked Forlan on his thoughts about coming on as a left-sided midfielder at San Siro.

"He did not refuse to come on," assured Ranieri after the tie. "I simply asked if he was prepared to do this specific tactical work on the left?

"He replied with great honesty: 'No, Coach, if I do have to come on then I prefer to do it playing in another way.' So I opted not to introduce him, as I needed something else."