Soccer Extreme : Manchester United striker Federico Macheda has rejected claims his description of Wayne Rooney as a 'coatto' was derogatory.Macheda caused controversy this week when he used the term - loosely translated as a peasant, a lout or a chav - in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Rooney is a really great person, he always gives me advice, but he's a bit of a coatto," he told the Milan-based paper.
However, Macheda insists the term - which had been translated as 'working class and vulgar' in some English newspapers - was meant as a compliment.
"When I used the term 'coatto', which is Roman slang, I didn't mean any offence to Wayne," he said in Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have the utmost respect and admiration for him. I just used it to mean how he's down to earth and friendly.
"I have already sent a text to Rio Ferdinand, to clarify my words with Wayne, and Rio has assured me there is no problem." (soccernet)