Former Tigers prop Martin Castrogiovanni has defended his departure from the club and fired a hard-hitting broadside at Leicester's director of rugby Richard Cockerill in the process.
The 33-year-old came out of the changing rooms at the end of his side's 25-21 defeat and announced that he paid £100,000 to get out of his contract in the summer of 2013.
The tight-head prop joined Toulon with one year remaining on a three-year deal after protracted negotiations.
"I paid a lot of money to leave this club. I don't need money to play rugby. I paid my own money to leave this club," he said.
"I paid £100,000 from my pocket to leave this club because I wanted to play rugby and I never had the chance to say that (when I left).
"No player will be bigger than this club. But I never had an opportunity to defend myself when I left because people talk rubbish and Cockers was talking about money.
"When I left this club, they had Coley (Dan Cole) and they had me. A good tight head prop playing for England and a hairy Italian who they made look like I want to play for the money.
"I never want to speak with Cockerill any more. If you are not clear with me I never want to talk to you ever again.
"In the last two years here, people have been getting the sack. They used to respect people, now they have been sacking people.
"When I came to this club, everything was about the shirt and the badge. I didn't leave for the money."
Castrogiovanni also admitted that he still "loved" the club, thought his positive reception from fans was "beautiful" and that he "left half his heart here" when he departed, he also said he was looking forward to welcoming Tigers "back home" in Toulon next Saturday.
"They played quite a good game and they set the standards. They were quite physical but they have won just one game. It's just one game," he said. "They played the game of their lives but they need to come to us next week and we will see what happens.
"Everyone wants to win against us. We are the best. We have won everything."
Responding to his comments, Cockerill said: "Castro was released from his contract and there was a fee involved in that that was sorted out between Simon Cohen (chief executive) and Toulon.
"Castro came here and he has been fantastic for the club. I have a lot of time for Castro but I pick on merit. Dan Cole was third choice behind Castro and I said to him, when you are better that the others, I will pick you - and I did.
"Castro is a fantastic player and a fantastic icon for this club and I have nothing but praise for him. He is a great guy. One day, he will realise that is just sport.
"I have spent a lot of time with him and this club made him. I don't want him to feel bitter towards us, he is a great bloke and one day, we will have a beer and smile about it."
