Paolo Di Canio has launched an astonishing rant at new AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho, whom he has labelled "the worst of the worst".
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On Tuesday, Roma announced that Mourinho will take over as their manager from next season, just a few weeks after he was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur.
There have been many who have deemed the Portuguese tactician's style of management outdated following his stints with Spurs and Manchester United, and Di Canio feels Roma have made a mistake in hiring Mourinho to take them forward.
"You've got the worst of the worst," the former Lazio and West Ham United striker is believed to have said in a phone message to a friend who supports Roma, with the recording having since been released on YouTube, as per Football Italia.
"I understand you needed a big name at this moment, but it's like when you sign a player who is finished. Mourinho just wanted a job with money, he's had his third sacking in four years, kicked out from everywhere due to the incompatibility of his character, and before that's all he was good at, having character.
"Now Tottenham gave him the boot for his results and incapacity to take the team to another level after two years with all the money they spent.
"Considering the environment around Roma, he's fine, you might be expecting who knows what, but I tell you, he's the worst of the worst. He's finished in every conceivable way.
"He doesn't even play football, he plays anti-football. You might enjoy yourselves in a few press conferences, because controversy makes for good theatre, but let me tell you: to reconstruct a team, he's the worst you could possibly get.
"And I can say that because he was my favourite up until seven years ago, even more than Pep Guardiola."
Click through the gallery below to see who the 10 highest-paid managers in Serie A will be when Mourinho returns to Italy:
