Ever Banega appeared to poke fun at Antonio Conte’s hair transplant during Sevilla’s tempestuous Europa League final victory against Internazionale in Cologne on Friday night.
The Sevilla midfielder and Inter head coach became embroiled in a row during the first half after the Serie A side were denied a penalty for a contentious Diego Carlos handball.
Conte remonstrated with referee Danny Makkelie from the touchline and began to argue with Banega in the process.
The former Juventus and Chelsea manager gestured as if to ridicule the 5ft7in Banega’s height before being told to calm down by members of his backroom staff.
Banega responded by rubbing his head – an apparent reference to Conte’s succession of hair transplants since retiring as a player in 2004.
According to Sky Sport Italia and La Gazzetta dello Sport, Banega reportedly told Conte: “Let me see if that wig is real.”
Conte was shown a yellow card for dissent and Banega would ultimately end on the winning side, with Diego Carlos’ 74th-minute overhead kick deflecting in off Romelu Lukaku’s left boot.
Conte refused to discuss the row between him and Banega in his post-match press conference, insisting that what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch and adding that it was not anyone else’s business.
The Italian’s future at Inter came into doubt earlier this month amid tensions with the board following their runners-up finish domestically.
And despite appearing more content in the build-up to Friday’s final, the 51-year-old offered few guarantees after the final whistle that he would remain in place for next season.
“Now we have to get back to Milan, will take two or three days off, then with cool heads we will meet,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“It’s only right that we analyse the entire season, look at everything in a very calm way, and try to plan the future of Inter, whether it’s with or without me.”
