Sampdoria move to sack Cassano: report

Sampdoria have asked Italian League authorities for permission to terminate the contract of Italy striker Antonio Cassano with immediate effect, local press reports.

Cassano did not turn up to Sampdoria’s training on Saturday morning and has allegedly been suspended by the club.

The sanctions brought against the 28-year-old relate to a spat with club president Riccardo Garrone on Tuesday, during which time Cassano is supposed to have insulted the official.

Although he apologised during a meeting with Garrone on Thursday, coach Domenico Di Carlo on Friday omitted Cassano from the match-day squad for Sunday’s trip to Cesena.

Italian press reports claim Cassano refused to join Garrone at an awards event on Tuesday night.

“Referring to the episode on Tuesday 26th (October) at the Gloriano Mugnaini training centre during which the footballer Antonio Cassano behaved in a seriously offensive and disrespectful way in his meeting with the president Riccardo Garrone, Sampdoria has asked the relevant organisations to begin disciplinary proceedings,” said a club statement on Friday.

Press reports claim Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus would be interested in signing the errant star, a regular under new Italy coach Cesare Prandelli.