Roma defender Gianluca Mancini admits he grew up as a big fan of Inter Milan hero Marco Materazzi.

Mancini has likened Materazzi to former basketballer Michael Jordan.

“I tattooed the number 23 because of Marco Materazzi," Mancini told Cronache di Spogliatoio. “Finally, I put it on my shirt. For Marco it was born with the myth of Michael Jordan, for me it starts with him.

“I was born in a family of Inter fans and I wasn't even a defender, but when I saw him playing, with his competitive spirit, with a great left foot, he impressed me.

“He has always been the No23. It was the first tattoo I got. My dad was an Inter fan, for him getting a tattoo about an Inter player was immediately OK, so I had it done in a sly way. I was 15 and convinced my father by getting Marco's number."