Goal.com 50

Goal.com 50: Antonio Cassano (29)

Goal.com's countdown of the 50 best players of 2008-09 continues, and at No. 29 is the talented, but often controversial figure of Antonio Cassano...

Jul 16, 2009 11:20:00 PM

Torn Apart: Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano pictured during his side's Serie A defeat against Napoli

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Torn Apart: Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano pictured during his side's Serie A defeat against Napoli

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Sampdoria

Players

Antonio Cassano

30. Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United & Netherlands)

29. ANTONIO CASSANO (Sampdoria & Italy)

28. Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux & France)

Overall, 2008-09 was a season of almosts for Antonio Cassano. He almost won the Coppa Italia and almost gained a spot for Italy at the Confederations Cup.

Following a hugely successful loan stint from Real Madrid, the campaign began on a high note as he secured a permanent transfer to Sampdoria. The player’s talent had never been questioned, only his temperament and consistency, and his goal in this past season was to put that reputation behind him. Ten goals in his first year with the club had put him back on the footballing map as a player and improvement was the only way he could maintain such status.

The commitment ‘Fantantonio’ showed to the Genoa-based club saw him given the position of vice-captain and perhaps he can now even think of shedding his Fabio Capello-given nickname ‘Cassanata.’

The Blucerchiati actually got off to a relatively slow start, going winless in their first seven matches of the Serie A season and looking a candidate for relegation in the early stages, but it's no coincidence that when Cassano started to heat up, so did the team itself.

Convincing wins over Lecce, Catania, Reggina, and Lazio in Serie A were nothing short of Cassano-inspired. Single-handedly the Bari-born star made life miserable for these sides with flicks, tricks, and some spectacular assists. At times, he appeared to be the only danger man for his side, but on occasion that was enough to gather a precious result.

The end of the winter transfer window saw Giampaolo Pazzini join Sampdoria from Fiorentina – giving Cassano a suitable partner in crime upfront, allowing him to blossom even further. They became one of the most feared tandems in the league, helping the club pull well ahead of the relegation zone in the process.

Perhaps Cassano’s crowning moment of the season came in a 3-0 win over Scudetto holders Inter in the Coppa Italia, when to open the scoring he stole the ball from the Nelson Rivas and chipped the goalkeeper, before his incisive play caused headaches for the Nerazzurri all night long en route to the convincing victory.

That lead to a date in the Coppa Italia final with Lazio, but, while Cassano and the Blucerchiati fought valiantly, they faltered in a penalty shoot-out. Still, Cassano’s presence is one of the major factors permitting Sampdoria to fight for trophies like the Coppa Italia once again – something they have not managed for over a decade.

In the end, Cassano established himself as someone that has come of age – grabbing 12 goals and 11 assists in Serie A and being one of the most prominent and outstanding strikers in the league – earning a place in the Goal.com Serie A Team Of The Season.

Scandalous | Cassano misses out on the Italy squad

Nonetheless, his season ended on a sour note, despite his success and improved behaviour (apart from some rather interesting anecdotes and remarks in his biography), as he was once again snubbed by Italy boss Marcello Lippi for the Confederations Cup for South Africa. However, the former Roma star may have had the last laugh after the Azzurri’s lacklustre display in the competition proved they are desperate for an imagination like his.

As for the future, Peter Pan must keep daring to fly and then hope that Lippi will grant him a World Cup appearance.

2008-09 HONOURS

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Adam Scime, Goal.com