Sampdoria take action against Cassano
Reuters - Friday 29 October 2010, 20:14
MILAN, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Italy forward Antonio Cassano's
future at Sampdoria was unclear on Friday after the Serie A side
said they were taking disciplinary action against him for
insulting club president Riccardo Garrone.
"Antonio Cassano was seriously offensive and lacked respect
towards the president. Sampdoria announce that we have started
disciplinary proceedings with the relevant authorities," the
statement said.
Italian media, which said the clash came over Cassano's
refusal to attend a charity dinner, took the statement to mean
that the player would be thrown out of the first team squad.
The 28-year-old was constantly in trouble in the past but
has matured markedly in the last two years and married in the
close season and has a baby on the way.
His bad boy image following a series of pranks at ex-clubs
AS Roma and Real Madrid led to former Italy coach Marcello Lippi
exiling him from the national side but new boss Cesare Prandelli
had installed Cassano as a key player in Euro 2012 qualifying.
Inter Milan have been long-term admirers of Cassano and are
short of extra firepower while Juventus need guile upfront and
could be tempted with a bid for the skilful attacker in January
if his Samp career is over.