Former Rangers and Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is shocked that he is being investigated on suspicion of involvement in match-fixing, according to his agent.
Gattuso, a 2006 World Cup winner who played for the Glasgow side in the late 1990s, has been named by Italian media in a probe being carried out by Cremona’s prosecuting office.
Ex-Lazio midfielder Cristian Brocchi is included in the investigation, according to reports.
Both face allegations that they were involved in a betting ring that fixed Serie A and other Italian games in the 2010-11 campaign.
“Gennaro is stunned by the news,” Gattuso’s agent Andrea D’Amico told Press Association Sport. “I spoke to him and he is returning home (to Milan).
“We are remaining calm and we have to be patient and see how the investigation develops. However, just because he is under investigation does not mean anything, for all we know this could be just false allegations.
“Sometimes when you are a famous player, it is very easy for your name to appear and to be a target. We will wait and see how the situation develops.”
Reports in Italy claim that Gattuso and Brocchi both had telephone contact with people that were arrested on Monday night by police.
The four taken into custody are charged with sporting fraud as part of ‘Last Bet’ operation, an investigation that began in 2010 and that has already led to 54 arrests, including current and former Italian players.
Gattuso, 35, retired from professional football earlier this year to pursue a coaching career. He has been out of a job since being sacked as head coach by Serie B side Palermo in September.
Brocchi is currently a youth team coach at AC Milan.