Oddo: Cassano will grow at Milan

Serie A leaders Milan have travelled to Dubai for their European winter break, with new signing Antonio Cassano in tow and a welcome addition.

The 28-year-old striker joined Milan from Serie A rivals Sampdoria on December 20 and now has time to get to know his new team mates before their next match in January.

Cassano’s reputation as a maverick character has dogged his career throughout stints for Roma, Real Madrid and Sampdoria, but defender Massimo Oddo feels confident the new man will fit in well.

“We expect very much from him. He surely represents an added value, so we hope to keep on following the same path,” he said.

“We hope everything will go smoothly. Milan has a positive atmosphere and gives you everything from a players point of view. Of course the club demands respect. I think we’re a good group and we’ll try to keep him at bay.”

Rivals Inter also have a new arrival in the former of Brazilian coach Leonardo.

The World Cup winner is a familiar face at the San Siro after starting his coaching career with Milan, before leaving the club at the end of last season.

But Oddo feels Leonardo’s decision to join Milan’s old foes should be not be seen as a slight to his former club.

“He’s a coach and had a great opportunity and accepted the challenge,” he said.

“He spent some time with Milan and will always be linked to this club, but he made a professional choice. This kind of decision is taken with a different spirit in Italy than in some foreign countries. In any case, this is a professional choice and should be respected.”

Milan will return to league action in 2011 when they travel to Cagliari on January 6, with Inter taking on second-placed Napoli.