Marco Materazzi shook Zinedine Zidane's [ Images ] hand last month for the first time since the Frenchman's infamous headbutt on him in the 2006 World Cup final, the Italian said on Thursday.

They accidentally met at a Milan hotel when Inter Milan [ Images ] defender Materazzi was going to meet former boss Jose Mourinho, who was in the city for Real Madrid's [ Images ] Champions League [ Images ] game with AC Milan [ Images ].

Rumours have since persisted that Zidane, a Real adviser, bumped into Materazzi and the former Italy [ Images ] international has now confirmed the speculation.

"What was said stays between us. Let's say I did most of the talking and when at the end he held out his hand, I shook it firmly until he looked me properly in the eye," Materazzi told Mediaset television.

"It's what I wanted. For me it was great, I don't know about him," he added.

Zidane was sent-off for butting Materazzi in the chest in the 2006 final, the last match of his career. Italy won 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Materazzi also revealed a number of run-ins with former Inter striker Mario Balotelli [ Images ], who infuriated his team-mates last term with his attitude and by being pictured wearing an AC Milan shirt.

"He received a slap and a boot in the face," Materazzi said of the Manchester City [ Images ] striker.

"But when he had an operation and he was in hospital, I was there at midnight keeping him company and getting him snacks from the machine," he added.