Ex-Celtic star opens up on ‘body bag’ threat from Italy star

Scott Brown has divulged the one time he was “proper rattled” on the pitch after a peculiar threat from Mario Balotelli.

The former Celtic captain faced the Italian striker during a Champions League match against AC Milan and admitted the exchange left him startled.

In a conversation with BBC Sport, Brown said about Balotelli: “We played Milan away, and I knew he was a good player. I knew he had a little switch that could trigger at any point.

“I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to have him.'”

However, after a forceful challenge early in the game, things swiftly intensified.

“There was a tackle about 20-25 minutes in, and I’ve munched him about 30 yards out, barely touched the ball.

“He stood over me and said, ‘You will not leave Italy unless it’s in a body bag.’

“I was like, ‘I’ve not had that said to me before.'”

Brown added: “Not sure if it’s true or not, but the mafia over here could probably do that, gonnae help us up, big man?”

This encounter left a lasting impression on Brown, marking the only time he was truly rattled on the field.