Montella criticises De Rossi over Bari elbow

Roma coach Vincenzo Montella strongly criticised his midfielder Daniele De Rossi on Friday, after the Italy international was banned for three games for elbowing an opponent against Bari.

"De Rossi's foul was unjustifiable," said Montella, whose team host champions-elect AC Milan on Saturday.

"A coach cannot accept it, because it risks compromising a whole season."

De Rossi was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Bari's Simone Bentivoglio last Sunday and was subsequently handed a three-game suspension.

"I spoke to Daniele just after the match and he told me that he was trying to defend himself but, to be honest, after watching the images I had other feelings," said Montella.

De Rossi had already been suspended for three European games by European governing body UEFA after being found guilty of punching Shakhtar Donetsk captain Darijo Srna in the head during a Champions League game on March 8.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli also punished the box-to-box midfielder by omitting him from his squad for the national team's games against Slovenia and Ukraine at the end of March.

Rome-born De Rossi has been predicted to inherit the captain's armband from club legend Francesco Totti, but the 27-year-old -- a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad - has been linked with a move away from the capital.

According to reports in the Italian media, Real Madrid are interested in signing the player.