Antonio Cassano (born July 12, 1982 in Bari) is an Italian football player, who plays for U.C. Sampdoria. On August 13th 2007, he was transferred to the Italian Serie A club on a one-year loan deal from Real Madrid. Both teams have agreed to share the cost of his wages. Sampdoria can ransom the player for € 5.5 mln. He is an occasional member of the Italian national team, but he was not included into the victorious squad at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He is a skillful, two-footed forward. is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Bari (disambiguation). ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... Unione Calcio Sampdoria (commonly nicknamed Blucerchiati, blue-ringed) is a football club based in Genoa, Italy. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Madrid. ... First international  Italy 6 - 2 France  (Milan, Italy; 15 May 1910) Biggest win  Italy 9 - 0 USA  (Brentford, England; 2 August 1948) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 Italy  (Budapest, Hungary; 6 April 1924) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result Winners, 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 European Championship Appearances... The striker (wearing the red shirt) has run past the defender (in the white shirt) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to attempt to stop the ball. ...

Variously nicknamed Peter Pan, Fantantonio, El Pibe de Bari (a clear reference to Diego Maradona's nickname) and Il Gioiello di Bari Vecchia (the jewel of Old Bari), Cassano has acquired a reputation for petulance that has often attracted more media attention than his ability as a player. He has lent his name to the Italian neologism cassanata, coined by Fabio Capello in November 2002 and subsequently used by journalists to refer to any behaviour incompatible with team spirit in football.^[1] Diego Armando Maradona (born October 30, 1960) is an Argentine former footballer. ... A neologism (Greek νεολογισμός [neologismos], from νέος [neos] new + λόγος [logos] word, speech, discourse + suffix -ισμός [-ismos] -ism) is a word, term, or phrase which has been recently created (coined) — often to apply to new concepts, to synthesize pre-existing concepts, or to make older terminology sound more contemporary. ... Fabio Capello (born June 18, 1946 in San Canzian dIsonzo, Gorizia) is an Italian football manager and former professional player who most recently coached Real Madrid. ...

Biography

Cassano was born on July 12, 1982, the day next to Italy's win over Germany in the 1982 FIFA World Cup Final. He grew up poor in the old section of Bari, Bari Vecchia. As a child, he always played football in the streets of Bari and was picked up by an A.S. Bari scout and brought up through the biancorossi's youth system. Cassano's dad left when Antonio was infant. is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Qualifying countries The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th staging of the World Cup, was held in Spain from June 13 to July 11. ... For other uses, see Bari (disambiguation). ... Associazione Sportiva Bari is an Italian football club based in Bari, Apulia. ...

Early career

Cassano made his Italian Serie A league debut for Bari in 1999, against local rivals US Lecce. A week later, he scored a superb goal against Inter Milan, one of the clubs who had courted Cassano before he signed a professional contract with his hometown club. This article is about the Italian football league. ... Associazione Sportiva Bari is an Italian football club based in Bari, Apulia. ... Unione Sportiva Lecce or simply U.S. Lecce is a football club based in Lecce, Apulia. ... Internazionale Milano Football Club is an Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, which plays in the Serie A. It is more commonly known as Inter, and often named Inter Milan in foreign countries. ...

The top clubs in Italy each kept a close eye on Cassano, and amid rumours of a pre-contract agreement with AS Roma, he eventually signed for the then Serie A champions in the summer of 2001. The transfer fee of around €28m was considered by some a huge amount to pay for a player who was still only 19 years old. Juventus general director Luciano Moggi commented "Cassano is a real talent, but €28m for a player of his age is excessive. It's too soon to understand exactly how much he is worth." Associazione Sportiva Roma (ISE: IT0001008876) is a major professional football club both in Italy’s Serie A and in European football. ... Juventus Football Club (from Latin [1] iuventus: youth, IPA: ); (pronounced yoo-ven-toos) also known as Juventus Turin (or Juventus Torino), Juventus, or simply Juve, is a football club from Turin, Italy. ... Luciano Moggi (born July 10, 1937 in Monticiano) is an Italian football managing director. ...

Cassano's first season at Roma produced only five goals. As his game developed, he began to come to the attention of the national side selectors, culminating in a scoring debut for Italy in November 2003, against Poland. Cassano played for the Azzurri squad in UEFA Euro 2004, at the age of 22. After Italian playmaker Francesco Totti was suspended following a spitting incident with Danish Christian Poulsen in a group match, Cassano won a place in the starting line-up and scored a goal against Sweden and a last-minute winner against Bulgaria. However, Italy was eliminated in the group stage on goal difference. He was described by Giovanni Trapattoni as "The future of Italian football". Euro 2004 Logo The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly called Euro 2004, was held in Portugal between 12 June and 4 July 2004. ... Francesco Totti, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI,[1][2] (born 27 September 1976 in Rome) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, and is widely recognized as one of the most talented players in the past two decades. ... Christian Bager Poulsen (born February 28, 1980) is a Danish professional football (soccer) player who currently plays for Sevilla FC. He has been a regular member of the Denmark national football team since his debut in 2001, and has currently played more than 40 matches, scoring 2 goals. ... Giovanni Trapattoni (born March 17, 1939) is an Italian football coach and former player. ...

Roma controversies

It was during this period that Cassano's surliness began to attract media attention. He had numerous disputes with coaches at the club and the national team, his relationship with then Roma coach Fabio Capello being notably a fractious one - the pair fell out over Cassano's omission from a practice match a few days after his international debut. Fabio Capello (born June 18, 1946 in San Canzian dIsonzo, Gorizia) is an Italian football manager and former professional player who most recently coached Real Madrid. ...

In the 2003 Coppa Italia finals against AC Milan, Cassano was sent off when he protested at a decision, and Cassano insistently showed the horns gesture towards the referee while leaving the pitch. In the 2004-05 season, after the resignation of Roma manager Cesare Prandelli, Cassano quarrelled with replacement Rudi Völler until the poor performance of the club forced Völler to resign only a month after his appointment. In a December 2004 interview, Cassano claimed to miss Capello, whom he considered to be "like a father". The Coppa Italia Trophy - Coppa in Italian meaning Cup representing the Tournaments title. ... Associazione Calcio Milan is an Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy. ... Misconduct in football (soccer) is any conduct by a player which is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction (caution or send-off) in accordance with Law 12 the Laws of the Game. ... The Corna or Devil Horns The corna (Italian for horns, also mano cornuta, horned hand and fare le corna, to make the horns) is a gesture with a vulgar meaning in Mediterranean countries and a variety of meanings and uses in other cultures. ... Claudio Cesare Prandelli (born 19 August 1957 in Orzinuovi, province of Brescia) is an Italian football coach, currently of ACF Fiorentina, and former player. ... Rudolf Rudi Völler (born April 13, 1960) is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team. ...

He was omitted from the squad while Luigi Del Neri, the third AS Roma coach of the season, was in charge. Del Neri resigned in the middle of the season, being replaced by youth team boss and former AS Roma legend Bruno Conti after a run of disastrous results. Cassano returned to the team under Conti, and even served as Roma team captain when Francesco Totti was suspended for five matches toward the end of the season. Luigi Del Neri (born August 23, 1950 in Aquileia, Udine) is an Italian football manager, currently in office with U.S. Città di Palermo of the Serie A. A former football player for Foggia and Udinese, Del Neri started his coaching career in1986 for Serie D team Pro Gorizia. ... Bruno Conti (born March 13, 1955 in Nettuno, province of Rome) is an Italian ex-soccer player and former coach of the Serie A team A.S. Roma from 14 March 2005 to 30 June 2005. ... The team captain of a football team, sometimes known as the skipper, is a team member chosen to be the on-pitch leader of the team: it is often one of the older or more experienced members of the squad, or a player that can heavily influence a game. ... Francesco Totti, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI,[1][2] (born 27 September 1976 in Rome) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, and is widely recognized as one of the most talented players in the past two decades. ...

During the 2005-06 pre-season, while Roma was coached by Luciano Spalletti, Cassano was in constant conflict with the club management over the renewal of his contract, which was due to expire on June 30, 2006. Media commentators speculated that Cassano would leave Roma to join his former coach Fabio Capello at Juventus, but he eventually joined Real Madrid in January 2006, notoriously without saying good-bye to his Roma teammates. Luciano Spalletti (born 7 March 1959 in Certaldo, Florence) is an Italian football coach who currently manages A.S. Roma in Serie A. A former football player for Serie C teams such as Empoli and Spezia, Spallettis early career in management led him to struggling Empoli, where he lead... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Madrid. ...

Transfer to Real Madrid

Cassano became the second ever Italian player to sign for Real Madrid following Christian Panucci, a former teammate of his at AS Roma. He scored on his debut on January 18, 2006 in a Copa del Rey match against Real Betis. He also scored in Real Madrid's 2-1 win over city rivals Atlético Madrid, but his failure to gain a regular place prompted speculation that Madrid signed him primarily to cash in on his resale value in his native Italy. Meanwhile reports of Cassano's erratic and anti-social behaviour continued, and his expanding waistline due to a weakness for junk food led in May 2006 to Madrid fining him for every gram he remained overweight. Cassano became a figure of ridicule in the Spanish media, including a parody by comedian Carlos Latre playing on Cassano's habit of excessive eating. He was omitted from Italy's victorious 2006 World Cup squad. Christian Panucci (born 12 April 1973 in Savona) is an Italian football (soccer) player, who currently plays for AS Roma of Italian Serie A. Panucci is a renowned defender who usually plays on the right-hand side. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Copa del Rey is an annual cup competition for Spanish football teams. ... Real Betis Balompié is a Spanish football club in Seville founded in 1907. ... Club Atlético de Madrid is a Spanish football club based in Madrid. ... Carlos Latre, (Castellón de la Plana, January 30, 1979) is a Spanish comedian actor. ... “2006 World Cup” redirects here. ...

Hopes were raised of a revival in Cassano's career when Fabio Capello, his mentor and former manager at Roma, joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2006 following his departure from Juventus in the wake of the Serie A scandal of 2006. In May 2006, a massive match fixing scandal in the history of Italian Serie A football was uncovered by Italian police, implicating league champions Juventus, and powerhouses A.C. Milan, Fiorentina, and Lazio. ...

Return to the Azzurri

After an absence of about a year, Cassano was called up by new head coach Roberto Donadoni to the Italian national team for two Euro 2008 qualifying matches in September 2006. On September 2, Cassano played the full 90 minutes against Lithuania, setting up a goal in the 1-1 draw and being arguably the best player in the team. However his performance in the next qualifying match, the 3-1 defeat by France on September 6, was unimpressive. Roberto Donadoni (born September 9, 1963 in Cisano Bergamasco, Province of Bergamo, Lombardy) is an Italian football (soccer) manager and former player. ... First international Italy 6 - 2 France (Milan, Italy; 15 May 1910) Largest win Italy 9 - 0 USA (Brentford, England; 2 August 1948) Worst defeat Hungary 7 - 1 Italy (Budapest, Hungary; 6 April 1924) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result Winners, 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 European Championship Appearances... This page describes the qualification procedure for the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship, also called Euro 2008. ... is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Real Madrid controversies

On October 30, 2006 the Real Madrid club website announced that Cassano had been temporarily suspended from the team, citing his “disrespect” of coach Fabio Capello following a dressing room argument arising from his omission from the team after a game against Gimnastic de Tarragona. According to Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, Cassano reportedly said that he had always stood behind Capello, since their days at Roma, and asked Capello "Have you got no shame? I fought for you in Rome and this is how you repay me?". In that time Cassano joined David Beckham and Ronaldo in the unwanted players list for Capello. is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Madrid. ... Fabio Capello (born June 18, 1946 in San Canzian dIsonzo, Gorizia) is an Italian football manager and former professional player who most recently coached Real Madrid. ... Gimnástic de Tarragona is a Spanish football team formed in 1914 and based in Tarragona. ... La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. ... David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE (born May 2, 1975) is an English footballer born in Leytonstone, London. ... Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima (born September 22, 1976), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Brazil and the Italian Serie A club AC Milan. ...

Speculation abounded as to Cassano's future as a result of his outburst. He was linked with moves to Inter Milan, AC Milan, Newcastle United, S.S.C. Napoli, Fiorentina , Manchester City, and Sampdoria. In an interview with a Roman radio station, Cassano told the interviewer he would "walk all the way back to Roma", that he felt he owes the club, and that he should probably never have left in the first place. He also indicated his eagerness to make peace with Roma captain Francesco Totti with whom he fell out before his departure from Roma. Football Club Internazionale Milano, commonly referred to as simply Internazionale, Inter or Inter Milan,[1] is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy and was originally founded in 1908. ... Associazione Calcio Milan is an Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy. ... Newcastle United Football Club (also known as The Magpies or The Toon) are an English professional football team based in Newcastle upon Tyne. ... Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as simply Napoli or the abbreviation SSC Napoli, is an Italian professional football club based in Naples, Campania that was originally founded in 1904. ... ACF Fiorentina is an Italian football club based in Florence (Firenze), Tuscany. ... Manchester City Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Manchester. ... Unione Calcio Sampdoria (commonly nicknamed Blucerchiati, blue-ringed) is a football club based in Genoa, Italy. ... Francesco Totti, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI,[1][2] (born 27 September 1976 in Rome) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, and is widely recognized as one of the most talented players in the past two decades. ...

However Cassano did not leave in the January transfer window, and his continued omission from the side despite being reinstated to the first team squad was componded by an ankle injury which effectively ended his season. In an interview with Spanish radio in July 2007, the president of Real Madrid Ramon Calderon described Cassano's attitude as "unsustainable in the last couple of months" and indicated that he would be leaving the club.^[2]. Ramón Calderón (© Realmadrid. ...

Sampdoria

On August 13th Sampdoria struck a deal with Real Madrid to transfer Cassano to the Genoa-based club on a one year loan. Sampdoria will pay €1.2 million of his salary, while Real will pick up the remaining €3million of the bill. Sampdoria will have the option to buy Cassano at the end of the season. He was presented to the fans on August 18, 2007 in front of 2,500 fans, On August 18, 2007 In his first press conference Cassano said that he has chosen the shirt number 99 homage to his good friend Ronaldo because his favourite number 18 was taken by his teammate Vladimir Koman, also because 9+9 is 18, Cassano refused to even consider taking the 10 that had been worn by Francesco Flachi, who was fired in the 2007 summer after testing positive for cocaine, Cassano was in good humour throughout, but his expression soured only when asked about former mentor Fabio Capello, who repeatedly froze him out of the Madrid squad, his answer was “No comment”. After his press conference he went right to training where he scored two goals in an intra-squad game. ^[3] Cassano made his debut for Sampdoria in the Derby della Lanterna with Genoa C.F.C. on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007. Cassano substituted former Roma team mate Vincenzo Montella in the final minutes of the match despite week long reports that he would miss the match due to injury. He was superbly received by the Sampdoria support as he entered the pitch and instantly caused the Genoa defenders problems. Cassano played well during his Sampdoria debut, drawing multiple defenders each time he brought the ball up the field and nearly set up several goals. Cassano scored his first return goal to Serie A against Atalanta B.C. on September 30 in a 3-0 victory. Unione Calcio Sampdoria (commonly nicknamed Blucerchiati, blue-ringed) is a football club based in Genoa, Italy. ... For other uses, see Genoa (disambiguation). ... Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima (born September 22, 1976), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Brazil and the Italian Serie A club AC Milan. ... Vladimir Koman Jr. ... Francesco Flachi (8 April 1975 Campi Bisenzio, Province of Florence) is an italian football striker, currently plays for U.C. Sampdoria. ... Fabio Capello (born June 18, 1946 in San Canzian dIsonzo, Gorizia) is an Italian football manager and former professional player who most recently coached Real Madrid. ... The Derby della Lanterna, translated as the the Derby of the Lantern (a reference to the Genoa lighthouse), is the officious name of the matches played between Genoas two professional sides U.C. Sampdoria and Genoa C.F.C. Since the foundation of Sampdoria in 1946 there have been... Genoa Cricket and Football Club (IPA: , pronounced JEH-noa) is a professional football club based in the city of Genoa in Italy. ... Vincenzo Montella (born June 18, 1974 in Pomigliano dArco, Campania) is an Italian football player who is currently on the books of A.S. Roma. ... This article is about the Italian football league. ... Atalanta B.C. (Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, sometimes called Atalanta Bergamo) is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy. ...

Honours

With Roma

• Italian Super Cup: 2001

The Italian Super Cup or the SuperCoppa Italiana is a pre-season football (soccer) competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year, in August. ...

With Real Madrid

• Spanish La Liga: 2006-07

(Professional Football League), commonly known as La Liga, is the professional football league in Spain. ...

References

1. ^ Antonio il terribile (Italian). Gazzetta dello Sport (2006-01-01). Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
2. ^ "Después de este primer año en la presidencia, mantengo la ilusión del primer día" (Spanish). Real Madrid CF (2007-07-03). Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
3. ^ http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/index.php?action=read&id=71465

La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Antonio Cassano career stats at Soccerbase
• FootballDatabase provides Antonio Cassano's profile and stats