Felipe Melo: ‘Balotelli play-acted, Chiellini not my friend, Inter will beat Juventus’ | OneFootball

Former Inter and Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo predicts the Nerazzurri will win the derby d’Italia on Sunday and insists Mario Balotelli ‘play-acted’ in an incident that cost him a red card in 2009.

The Fluminense midfielder, a former player for Fiorentina, Inter and Juventus in Serie A, released an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

His ex clubs Juventus and Inter meet at the Stadio Meazza on Sunday, and the Brazilian predicts that Simone Inzaghi’s team will win.

“The Nerazzurri are the best team in the league, but Juventus Motta’s Juventus are doing big things,” he said.

“Thiago has done an enormous job. It’s a derby and anything can happen. As an Interista, I think we’ll win as we play at home. Juventus will need more time, but they’ll fly if they win.”

Felipe Melo: ‘Balotelli play-acted, Chiellini not my friend, Inter will beat Juventus’

Juventus’ defender Giorgio Chiellini (C) reacts during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match Juventus vs Real Madrid on May 5, 2015 at the Juventus stadium in Turin. AFP PHOTO / MARCO BERTORELLO (Photo credit should read MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

New Juventus signing Douglas Luiz is struggling to settle in Turin after a €50m transfer from Aston Villa in the summer.

“He did extraordinary things under my friend Unai Emery, but Serie A is different from the Premier League,” noted Melo.

“Roberto Mancini’s Italy won the Euros thanks to tactics. Douglas had more space [in the Premier League] and he’ll become a joy for Juventus when he understands Italian football more.”

Former Juventus star Giorgio Chiellini, now a club director, has called Melo “a bad apple”, suggesting that the Brazilian midfielder lacked respect during his time in Turin.

“Chiellini is a great professional. I was young when I arrived at Juventus, and we often argued,” said Melo.

“He mentioned me in his book, but I have four children. Should I argue again? We’ll clear the air, but he’s not a friend of mine.”

Melo was sent off in a 2009 Serie A match between Inter and Juventus, when he was playing for the Old Lady.

The midfielder was given his marching orders after hitting Mario Balotelli and causing a brawl that also involved Thiago Motta.

“He [Balotelli] play-acted. I wouldn’t even have received a yellow card with VAR,” argued Melo.

“These things happen in a derby, but that was the only time I argued with Thiago.”