Daniele De Rossi's career at Roma has been built on his uncompromising and combative style, so it comes as no surprise that the Italian carries that attitude off the pitch as well as on it.

The 33-year-old is coming to the end of a successful career in Serie A and his attention will soon turn towards whether to coach the next generation of stars or leave the game altogether.

Judging by his latest comments, Roma's youngsters will be hoping he chooses the latter path with the midfielder admitting he would like to hit some of the social media generation with a baseball bat.

Daniele De Rossi criticises young players who concentrate more on Instagram than the game

Speaking to Undici, he said: 'When we started out, it was all different, that was 20 years ago. Now a 20-year-old will get into the first team and have more Instagram followers than [Lionel] Messi.

'When I was young, the older players would say, "It wasn't like in my day" – that's life and it always will be.

'Mind you, some of them irritate me too. When I see them do live Instagram videos from inside the locker room before a game, I'd like to take a baseball bat to their teeth.

'But they're 18 years old and in 20 years' time they will find themselves complaining about the youth of today.'

De Rossi has spent his entire professional career with Roma, but could leave this summer

The 33-year-old will see his contract expire at the end of the season with doubts over a renewal

In a wide ranging interview, De Rossi also admitted he felt a slight tinge of regret for missing out on the atmosphere in both the Premier League and La Liga, instead choosing to dedicate his career to Roma.

But he also admitted the thought of leaving his boyhood club would have caused even more pain, saying he has been brought to tears in the past at the thought of leaving the Stadio Olimpico.

He continued: 'I needed to play for Roma. I get physical and emotional pleasure playing with this jersey on my back. The years when I was about to leave, I'd step on to the field with tears in my eyes.

'Looking around and thinking it might be my last match at the Olimpico... Those moments made me realise I couldn't live without Roma.

'It would have hurt me more than missing out on a Real Madrid-Barcelona experience, or playing in England's most beautiful stadiums. At least that's how I view it. At the age of 33, I have reached the calm realisation that I'm well aware I haven't won or travelled that much.'