Di Canio: Dreams of Lazio (MikeHewitt/Allsport)

He described British newspapers as 'rubbish' in Italian sports newspaper Contro Campo, saying 'They're trying to ruin me, but they won't succeed.'

Di Canio's comments were provoked by a full-page article in The Sun accusing the Italian striker of unleashing a foul-mouthed volley of abuse at West Ham coach Glenn Roeder during a match the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on September 15.

'In England they massacre you with a headline, then apologise in small type,' he added.

Di Canio went on to rank the newspapers that he felt deserved to end up in the bin.

'In first place in the list of infamy, there's The Sun,' he said, 'followed by the Daily Express, the Mirror, the News of the World and the Daily Mail.'

If he currently feels the focus of the tabloids' wrath, at least he is in good company.

'On a personal level they've murdered people like Keegan and Hoddle, legends of English football,' he said.

'And look at what's happening to Eriksson,' he added. 'They can't bear it that a foreigner is in charge of the national team and doing a good job.'

Di Canio's contract at West Ham runs out at the end of this season, but despite his fractious relationship with the press, the 34-year-old player did not appear in a hurry to leave the country.

Asked whether he would return to Italy, he replied: 'I don't believe so, but I won't rule anything out.'

'Who knows?' he continued. 'I've never hidden my love for Lazio, and everybody knows I'd love to move closer to Terni where my parents live, but they also know that I could stay at West Ham. Here the fans love and respect me.'