Roman Rule: Cassano Concerns

By Zac Lee Rigg

Uh oh. Is it happening again?

Far too many times, fans have watched Antonio Cassano curdle the team chemistry at a club. Too often they have witnessed him dumped overboard when his position became untenable.

It's too early to tell, but his quotes after the Sampdoria fans booed him and the team in a 0-0 draw with Bari don't sound good.

"I did it in Rome and I also did it in Madrid. If this keeps happening I will pack my suitcases and leave from here," the Cassano blurted out, according to Citta di Genova.

Despite affirmations from the player himself, his teammates, and coaches that the 27-year-old is reformed, there's still a lingering doubt with Cassano. Marcello Lippi won't call him up to the national team, despite him being the most talented Italian available, because of fears he could poison the squad.

The one major difference between now and when Cassano left other clubs is that there doesn't appear to be any tension between Fantantonio and the major figures at Sampdoria. Both coach Gigi Del Neri and president Giuseppe Marotta rushed to quell any fallout, making sure to protect his ego along the way. Cleverly, compassionately, both sided with Cassano against the booing fans, before dismissing his talk of departure as a heat-of-the-moment outburst.

"The words of Cassano are those of a person who is sincere," Marotta told Sky. "He just said what was inside of him.

"Cassano is always respected because he is a direct person, and boldly told people what he really felt inside of him at the time."

Cassano's spats with his managers have blighted his career. He has a past history with Del Neri, at Roma, but appears to have patched things over by now. The bespectacled coach approached the situation calmly, diffusing worries.

"Antonio does things on instinct, we all know that," Gigi Del Neri told RaiSport. "What happened today offended him, but there is nothing to worry about. He wants to stay here and do well for Sampdoria, he certainly isn’t thinking of leaving."

The approach of the team around him may have changed, but it's unclear if Cassano actually has. By next week, this incident will be forgotten by the fans and Cassano. The one who will remember will be Lippi, who undoubtedly raised a knowing eyebrow when he read Cassano's outburst.

Julius Cesar
Consul Of The Week

The main talking point after Palermo came back from four goals down to score three and push Inter to the brink was the passion and heart of the Eagles. In all the hubbub surrounding the eight goal thriller, the performance of Mario Balotelli nearly escaped discussion.

The 19-year-old gave one of the most accomplished displays yet this year and singlehandedly demolished Palermo's backline. He won a penalty kick which Samuel Eto'o dispatched, scored a clinical brace, and then unselfishly assisted a fourth goal.

And then the halftime whistle blew.

Three minutes into the next half, Balotelli was given a rest. Shortly after, the youngster came down with the flu and spent the rest of the week in isolation from the rest of the squad. It's likely he wasn't entirely fit.

Palermo won't relish playing a fully healthy Balotelli any time soon.

Cleopatra
Beautiful Moment Of The Week

It's difficult to explain what makes Valeri Bojinov's goal midweek against Bari so rewatchable.

It's not the winding run through the midfield by Blerim Dzemaili or his subsequent lay off to Stefano Morrone. That part is fun, but it's just buildup.

It's not Bojinov's spin after Morrone taps the ball up to him near the top of the box. That's more shoddy marking than anything else.

It might be the dipping, swerving blast that the Bulgarian uncorked from distance, but alone it's just another wonder strike. All the pieces together add up to several more clicks on youtube than you were planning.

Do yourself a favor and catch a replay of the goal (and Parma's other goal in that match, scored by youngster Alberto Paloschi).

Cicero
Quote Of The Week   

New Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri extended his unbeaten streak to four matches this week, and he did it in breathtaking fashion. His side scored twice in injury time against AC Milan midweek to salvage an enthralling point, then went one better by scoring three second half strikes to overturn a two goal deficit against Juventus. Four points in one week when giants Milan and Juventus were the opponents makes gleeful viewing for eccentric Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

"Is Mazzarri my [Jose] Mourinho? He's much better than the Inter coach," De Laurentiis beamed, as quoted by Goal.com Italia, giving praise in a hyperbolic way only he knows how. "He beats him 10 to 1. I'm enjoying this team very much as they repeated the comeback on Wednesday against Milan. Compliments to my coach who once again got the substitutions right."

Straight-shooting Juve coach Ciro Ferrara had a very different reaction to the loss but was equally eloquent.

"We will take this punch in the face. It really hurts us," Ferrara said to Sky Sport Italia. "We wanted to win the game. We really wanted to, but we lost because it was our fault."

Brutus
Backstabber / Club Hindrance Of The Week

At one point in that 3-2 Napoli win, Juventus looked to have everything wrapped up. David Trezeguet headed home in the first half to give Ferrara's men the lead and Sebastian Giovinco notched in the 54th minute to secure what appeared an unassailable lead.

Giovinco's goal was a gift, wrapped with a shiny red ribbon by Matteo Contini. Trezeguet played a cross from the left, which had no chance of doing any damage since the only one in the box was the diminutive Giovinco, who couldn't win a header over a hobbit. Contini rose unopposed to clear, yet somehow construed to nod the ball down to the feet of the Atomic Ant, who obliged him by slotting easily into the net from six yards out.

Contini will be buying the entire team rounds this week after they saved his blushes by scoring the three goals needed to secure a win.

Results

Midweek: Bologna 2-1 Siena, Catania 1-2 Chievo, Genoa 2-1 Fiorentina, Juventus 5-1 Sampdoria, Lazio 0-1 Cagliari, Livorno 1-0 Atalanta, Napoli 2-2 Milan, Parma 2-0 Bari, Udinese 2-1 Roma, Inter 5-3 Palermo.

Weekend: Juventus 2-3 Napoli, AC Milan 2-0 Parma, Cagliari 3-0 Atalanta, Roma 2-1 Bologna, Chievo Verona 1-1 Udinese, Siena 1-1 Lazio, Livorno 0-2 Inter, Fiorentina 3-1 Catania, Sampdoria 0-0 Bari, Palermo 0-0 Genoa.

Zac Lee Rigg is an associate editor of Goal.com

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