Pioli was appointed to the Sicilian bench on June 2 2011 and fired on August 31 – before the Serie A season had even started.

He had just two competitive games, two draws with FC Thun that sealed their Europa League preliminary round exit.

“We understood each other straight away and I appreciated Pioli first as a man and then as a Coach,” Palermo President Zamparini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I was wrong to sack him, but at that moment I thought we no longer had the conditions to continue together. I received bad advice from my director of sport.

“I was eating my second testicle due to the stress. I’d already eaten the first.”

“I wish Pioli well at Inter, but only from the next game. Considering the difference in quality between the sides, there should be no chance for Palermo, yet I preserve hope.

“Inter have Mauro Icardi, the best centre-forward in Serie A, and Ivan Perisic who in my view is exceptional.”
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