The Saddest Backflip

“It was the saddest backflip of my career. I didn’t want to upset or disrespect the Lazio fans, but I had to do it for Lotito."

It was 2015, and Hernanes had left Lazio for Internazionale under dubious circumstances.

Former manager Claudio Lotito had sold the midfielder to the Milanese side after a run of games on the bench, claiming that the sale was a bargain for Lazio.

Those stinging words were still ringing in the young Brazilian's ears when he scored both goals against his former side at their home stadium, winning the game 2-1. Lotito looked on from the sidelines, we presume with pursed lips and cartoon steam whistling from his ears.

And then he did a backflip to really drive the point home. That's what Lazio were missing - celebratory acrobatics.

We like to think that, in fact, his home planet needed him as he ascended upside-down into the heavens.

Whatever the truth, no one can doubt the pain etched across Hernanes' face as he executed one of the most bizarrely depressing celebrations in recent memory.