'I wouldn't shake Benitez hand' - Materazzi takes swipe at his former Inter boss

Marco Materazzi has revealed he would often refuse to shake the hand of former Inter Milan manager Rafael Benitez after matches.

The Italian is no stranger to controversy, notorious for his role in Zinedine Zidane's sending off in the 2006 World Cup final.

Now the 46-year-old has questioned the 'honesty' of the post-match handshake, taking another swipe at old adversary Benitez in the process.

'I don't like this thing where you have to shake the opponent's hand after the final whistle,' Materazzi told Sebastien Frey on Instagram Live.

'I appreciate someone who won't shake my hand because I annoy him. It's better to maintain respect and honesty.

'Shaking hands is fine if you feel like it, but it shouldn't be an imposition. For example, I wouldn't shake Benitez's hand…'

Despite winning the FIFA Club World Cup, Benitez was fired in December 2010 after just six months in charge of Inter, and was subsequently brandished a 'liar' and a 'weak person' by Materazzi.

In contrast, Materazzi hailed the Spaniard's predecessor Jose Mourinho, who masterminded a treble-winning season in 2009-10.

'Jose was phenomenal, he knew how to keep the right level of tension going. At half-time in the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich, he told us: 'We are playing too well, we have to be worse!' Fantastic.'

Materazzi won 13 trophies at Inter between 2001 and 2011, and the former defender has disclosed Ronaldo came close to rejoining the club, instead of their city rivals in 2007. The Brazilian had departed after a disagreement with manager Hector Cuper.

'I'll tell you something I know for certain,' Materazzi added. 'Ronaldo would have wanted to come back to us.

'He didn't even want to leave in 2002. I got on my knees in the dressing room, begging him to stay, but he said: 'No, it's me or him.' And there I realised he was going.