Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini believes Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos deliberately injured Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in the 2018 Champions League final.
Salah left the pitch in tears after hurting his shoulder in the first half of the showpiece in Kiev, having been hauled to the ground by Ramos in the 25th minute.
Madrid's skipper has always claimed there was no intent in the action, but Liverpool were left to lick their wounds after a 3-1 defeat on the night.
But Chiellini, writing in his autobiography, had a different view on the veteran's tactics: "He knows how to be decisive in the important matches, with interventions beyond any logic, even by causing injuries with almost diabolical cunning.
"The Salah thing was a masterstroke. He, the master Sergio, always said he didn't do it on purpose, but he knew that by falling in that way and not letting go, nine times out of 10 you can break your rival's arm."
In Pictures | Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League Final 2018
Despite those views on the darker side to the Spaniard's game, Chiellini also believes the 34-year-old is the finest in his position.
"Ramos is the best defender in the world," he said.
"They say he's impulsive, not tactical at all, that eight to 10 goals are conceded each season through his mistakes, that he's very technical and that he could be a striker, which is the opposite of me.
"But the strength he transmits through his presence alone is incredible. Without Ramos, some stars like [Raphael] Varane, [Dani] Carvajal and Marcelo seem like schoolboys. They suddenly regress. Real Madrid become a defenceless team.
"With him at the [Santiago] Bernabeu, you can be sure they wouldn't have lost to Ajax by three goals (in the Champions League last season). I would bet money on that."
