Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio says there is nothing controversial about Stevan Jovetic's exclusion from the squad that beat Sassuolo 1-0 on Sunday.
There had been speculation of a row between Jovetic and Inter captain Mauro Icardi, with the former's agent Fali Ramadani claiming in Gazzetta dello Sport that the latter has a say in picking the team and has put pressure on coach Stefano Pioli to exclude his client.
However, Ausilio says the Montenegro international was left out of the trip to Sassuolo simply because he did not fit in with Pioli's tactics.
"There's no controversy about Jovetic," Ausilio told Mediaset. "I know his agent and he knows full well that things at Inter are not done that way. Jovetic has been left out for tactical reasons and I will defend my club while Ramadani defends his client.
"If, in the past year, three coaches have used Jovetic sparingly then it's only for tactical reasons. To think that the players at Inter pick the team like a Christmas tombola is ridiculous. We are all working for the common good and Jovetic is an Inter asset."
Jovetic has yet to start a game for Inter this season and has featured in just over an hour's worth of action from his five substitute appearances.