Italy legend Martin Castrogiovanni has revealed the explosive ending to his career, and named the one coach that he simply does not like.
Appearing on the KOKO show alongside Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock and Adam Ashley-Cooper, the 43-year-old shared some explosive stories from his playing career, including his shocking final mark on the game and his struggles with management.
The powerful prop spent seven years at Leicester, giving his prime years to the Midlands club. Although his time in the green jersey was incredibly successful, it wasn’t short of drama.
Clash with coach
Speaking about the latter stages of his Leicester career, Castrogiovanni said: “Dan Cole was coming up, and, of course, I was on a stupid amount of money, and they tried to let me go, and I wasn’t a guy who would sit down and shut up. I always say my things.
“I had a big argument with Cockers [Richard Cockerill]. I get suspended because I say the word you shouldn’t say in England. But I didn’t know that because I learned English in the changing room, and everyone was saying this word.
“I don’t like the guy; no one likes him. He don’t have too many friends in his life, I think.”
He continued this turbulent relationship with Cockerill after moving to France with Toulon. In his first trip back to Welford Road, Castrogiovanni caught wind of some comments made by his former coach, and as a result, stormed out into the press conference to confront him – in just his towel.
“I was so mad,” he said.
“All the cameras have turned, they said, What do you want to say?”
“Love me or hate me. I don’t hate anyone. Peace and love. I just don’t like c***s.”
Dropping the mic, the Italian prop then stormed off.
Explaining that his dislike for the man runs deep, Castrogiovanni told the KOKO panel that he refused a handshake from the man years later, saying: “I look at him and say, ‘I see you. I hate you. You are not my friend. You’re never going to be a friend. F*** off’.
“I never want to be friend of him, but he knows it.”
In Vegas with Zlatan Ibrahimovic
In 2016, Castrogiovanni played his final game of professional rugby. There were no on-field celebrations, no open-top bus tour, no emotional social media post – not even a goodbye.
Instead, the enigmatic prop was sacked from Racing 92 for failing to properly disclose his true location and missing four days of training, calling an end to his glittering career.
“When people don’t want you, they make you understand they don’t want you,” he stated.
Recalling the story that he was unable to play one weekend due to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Castrogiovanni told the club he was going to visit his sick grandma in Argentina, but when pictures came out that same weekend showing him partying in Vegas with the Paris Saint-Germain football team, that was the end of his career.
“On Monday, when I arrived back, I started receiving a lot of messages from the club about the photos, the press, and everything that was coming out. On the way back, Zlatan said to me, ‘Castro, don’t worry. Tomorrow in the conference, I will say now, rugby is more famous because of me, because you are with me.’”
“What they did; it’s bullsh*t. If you’re given four days off, and then they’ve used it as an excuse to sack you. I don’t like it.”
Racing didn’t let him return to the club to apologise to his teammates. Admitting that he no longer wanted to play rugby, the ageing prop called it a day on his career having achieved over a century of international caps and made enough money to take a break.