"I flew to Italy because it was important for my future and my football career"
Mali coach Jean-Francois Jodar has criticised Mohamed Sissoko's decision complete his transfer to Juventus during the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Eagles' midfielder, 23, returned to the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday after spending three days in Turin.
Sissoko made a substitute appearance as Mali lost 3-0 to Ivory Coast and failed to qualify to the quarter-finals.
"I'm not happy with Sissoko for leaving our camp - he disrespected African football," Jodar told BBC Sport.
"That's why I put him on the bench and I only brought him in the second half to replace the injured Kanoute.
"Juventus is a club that can afford to provide a jet for Sissoko and return him on the same day or the next day.
"But they didn't do that, instead they put the player on a public flight which meant he returned a day late for our match preparations against Ivory Coast - this was to our detriment.
"If Sissoko was a French player, do you think he would have behaved in this way," asks Jodar.
"If he did, he would not be given the chance to play again in the tournament."
However, the former Liverpool man defended his decision to fly to Italy.
"I flew to Italy because it was important for my future and my football career," Sissoko said.
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"I don't think I should be blamed for that and I expected the coach to show understanding."
It is the first time the Malian team have failed to progress past the first-round stage of the Africa Cup of Nations' finals.
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