Italy

Palermo Defender Mattia Cassani Not Obsessing Over Italy Call-Up

The 26-year-old has been tipped to get the nod from Azzurri boss Lippi this week, but he has stated that he is not losing any sleep over the issue…

Nov 5, 2009 10:43:44 AM

Mattia Cassani - Palermo-Siena - Serie A (Grazia Neri)

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Mattia Cassani - Palermo-Siena - Serie A (Grazia Neri)

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Mattia Cassani

Mattia Cassani’s brilliant start to the season with Palermo is likely to be rewarded this weekend, when Italy coach Marcello Lippi names his squad for the upcoming friendly internationals with the Netherlands and Sweden.

Cassani received his maiden senior call-up last May, when the Nazionale defeated Northern Ireland 3-0 in a friendly clash in Pisa.

“I am not going through all this as an obsession,” Cassani told the Corriere dello Sport.

“The boss knows what to do and is intelligent. He will watch Palermo closely, particularly if we do well in the league.

“In Pisa, he told us that it was a chance to realise a dream.”

But how come Serie A is struggling to produce homegrown full-backs?

“I disagree: I can think of [Inter defender Davide] Santon,” mused Cassani.

“Then again, you need plenty of international experience at this level. Lippi will keep faith in the old guard and slowly blood in the youngsters. I just need to improve.”

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

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