Tiemoue Bakayoko insists he did not tell AC Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso to ‘f*** off’ against Bologna

The 24-year-old midfielder, who is at the Serie A club on loan from Chelsea, was named among the substitutes but was asked to begin warming up by his manager after Lucas Biglia suffered a first-half injury

Tiemoue Bakayoko’s future is unclear ( (Getty)

Tiemoue Bakayoko has insisted that he was only repeating the words of Gennaro Gattuso when he was caught on camera seemingly telling the AC Milan manager to “f*** off” during the club’s 2-1 victory over Bologna on Sunday.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who is at the Serie A club on loan from Chelsea, was named among the substitutes but was asked to begin warming up by his manager after Lucas Biglia suffered a first-half injury.

Upon returning to the bench, Bakayoko and Gattuso appeared to become embroiled in an argument, with the midfielder caught swearing at his manager.

“I told Bakayoko to warm up, he took his time and I chose Mauri,” Gattuso told reporters. “I have 27 players, we wear a glorious shirt and I must be objective and honest in everything I do. I waited seven or eight minutes, he still had not put on his shin pads so I made that choice.

“The most important thing is Milan, not these things,” he added.

But Bakayoko insisted he had not acted improperly in an Instagram post shared after the match.

“For a few weeks people have been talking about me in the press but I decided to say nothing and continue working,” he wrote.

“But what happened tonight and the interpretation that was given that required me to react immediately because I do not accept that I am a player who refuses to take to the field when his coach asks him to and who does not respect his club and his team-mates.

“Despite starting on the bench I was ready to give 200 per cent even if I only played 5 minutes tonight.

“When Lucas [Biglia] began to suffer on the ground, I was asked to prepare for the change. So I prepared myself immediately and went to warm up for a maximum of 2/3 minutes.

“Then I was asked to return to the bench. everything passes I think between 23 and 26 minutes.

“It was when I sat on the bench that the coach spoke to me in unexpected terms and I only repeated his words. Nothing more.

“Let me be clear: I have never refused to come into play and I do not have to drag myself to warm up. It seems to me that the images speak for themselves.

“I had only one desire which was to enter the field and help my team-mates as I have always done and as I will do until the end of the season. Forza Milan.”

Suso and Fabio Borini put Milan in control before Mattia Destro replied, but the home side's recent frustration boiled over in the first half with the argument between Gattuso and Bakayoko.

Milan had to survive the last 15 minutes with 10 men after Lucas Paqueta was sent off when he appeared to slap the referee's hand after being booked for retaliation while Bologna finished with nine after Nicola Sansone and Mitchell Dijks were dismissed.

Fabio Borini scored early (AFP)

The win lifted Milan to fifth place on 59 points, ahead of AS Roma on their head-to-head record, although they are still three behind Atalanta who are fourth and occupy the last of the Champions League slots.

Qualification for the Champions League is the minimum Milan are aiming for this season and they have lost fourth place following a disappointing run of results, leaving nerves frayed.