‘I’ll rip your finger off’, ‘Barella is being an actor’

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Luka Modric of AC Milan competes for the ball with Nicolo’ Barella of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Massimiliano Allegri told the Inter-Milan referee on Sunday that Nicolò Barella was being an ‘actor’ while Francesco Acerbi threatened Rafael Leao: ‘I’ll rip your finger off.’

DAZN Italia has published some behind-the-scenes footage from Sunday’s derby della Madonnina, which Milan won 1-0 against Inter.

There was an incident minutes before the halftime whistle when Acerbi pulled Rafael Leao’s hair during an aerial duel, irritating the Milan ace.

Acerbi told Leao: ‘I’ll rip your finger off’

The Portuguese forward confronted Acerbi and repeatedly told the referee: “He pulled my hair, why did he pull my hair?”

Acerbi insisted he had not done it on purpose, but when Leao pointed his finger at him and said: “It’s the last time, it’s the last time,” the Inter defender firmly replied: “Next time, I’ll rip your finger off.”

Seeing the argument, Bernardo Corradi, one of Massimiliano Allegri’s assistants, told the Milan boss that Leao had to remain calm.

A few minutes later, however, Leao received a yellow card, the only one in the game, for a foul on Barella, right in front of the Milan bench.

What Allegri told Pulisic after substitution in Milan derby

Allegri protested: “Sozza, Acerbi had pulled his hair,” the Milan coach told the referee, and then added: “Come on, Barella is being an actor.”

Allegri was also unhappy with a penalty kick given to Inter in the second half, and after Hakan Calhanoglu missed it, he told his assistants: “How can you give a penalty kick like that?”

Lastly, when match winner Christian Pulisic was subbed off, Allegri smiled at him and said: “Well done, Chris, are you dead?”