Inter forward Antonio Cassano has admitted that he hasn’t made the most from his footballing abilities.
Cassano is an enigmatic figure who has had a problematic career after initially impressing as a teenager with hometown club Bari.
Inter forward Antonio Cassano has admitted that he hasn’t made the most from his footballing abilities.
Cassano is an enigmatic figure who has had a problematic career after initially impressing as a teenager with hometown club Bari.
“It’s my fault if I haven’t had a better career,” the man born in 1982 told Marco Tardelli, his former Under-21 boss, in an Italia 1 interview.
“I thought that quality alone was enough to take you forward. I’ve played for great clubs, but I’ve always done little.
“I’ve only done 50 per cent of what I could have done, I’ve always found a way to not train in a professional manner.”
Cassano has played for the likes of Roma, Real Madrid, Sampdoria, Milan and now Inter. But he’s famous for his ‘Cassanate’ – his frequent acts of indiscipline.
“I would say that I was in the wrong 99 per cent of the time,” he admitted. “However, I was put into a position to make mistakes.
“I went from being right to wrong in an instant.”
Cassano, whose Inter future is in doubt after a row with boss Andrea Stramaccioni earlier this season, joined the Nerazzurri from city rivals Milan in the summer.
The forward put in a transfer request despite the fact that the club helped to save his life after a heart defect was discovered last term.
“I’m a non-believer, but when I was in the ambulance on the way to hospital I thought that if there was someone there then I’d want them to do something so I could see my son,” Cassano added.
“I wasn’t scared of dying, I was scared of not seeing my son again.”
Cassano now has two sons and he has some advice for them. “I’d say the most important thing is that they don’t get into football.
“I’m tired of this football, there are too many fake people.”