JOAKIM MAEHLE has taken an astonishing swipe at Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
The 26-year-old worked under the Italian for two and a half years before leaving to join Wolfsburg this summer.
After joining up with the Danish national team, Maehle lifted the lid on what life under Gasperini was really like.
And the full-back didn't hold back, even revealing the bizarre reason that he and Manchester United new-boy Rasmus Hojlund once got into trouble with their manager.
Maehle told Danish outlet Tipsbladet: "He really decided everything.
"Sometimes, when we had a double training session, he said we should stay and sleep at the training facility, so we were not allowed to go back home.
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"You don't feel like a person. You feel like a number. You have no relationship with the coach. He would stand there and blame someone for something strange.
"For example, he was furious when Rasmus (Hojlund) and I came to training by car together.
"He didn't want us to drive together. Because then we could sit and talk together on the way to training, and enjoy ourselves.
"He didn't want that, and I got scolded even if it had been agreed with the club because he (Hojlund) had no driver.
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"I don't know if it's typical Italians. But some things make you angry and tired in the long run."
Maehle also blasted the lack of "freedom" afforded to players by Gasperini, 65.
He added: "The coach decided everything. And there wasn't really any freedom.
"Even though I lived in a nice place and the weather was good, I didn't have time to enjoy it because we spent so many days and hours at the training ground.
"It was super tough mentally. Even if you played a great game at the weekend, and the following one you didn't play too well for 20 minutes, you would go to the back of the queue again.
"There was not the continuity you see in other places. Mentally, I could feel that I really needed a change."
Despite Maehle's concerns, Gasperini has led Atalanta to a quartet of top four finishes since taking over in 2016.
He has also twice guided the Lombardy side to the Coppa Italia final.
Last season Hojlund, 20, broke through under his guidance, with the striker scoring nine goals in Serie A.
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His form earned him a £72million switch to Man United, for whom he made his debut on Sunday during the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Having been injured, Hojlund was introduced from the bench with 23 minutes remaining.
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