Antonio Cassano

'I can play until I'm 60!' - Antonio Cassano plotting Serie A return

Antonio Cassano has announced another sensational U-turn in his retirement plans, stating that he wants to return to playing with a Serie A team and joking that he can 'play until he's 60'.

The striker has been almost two years out of action, last announcing that he would be hanging up his boots to focus on spending time with his family after a series of flip-flopping statements over whether he would continue playing.

Despite having said he was 'done' with football, it seems Fantantonio has found a much-needed work-life balance, with the 36-year-old stating that he is ready to make a difference in Serie A – as long as he gets to play for a side close to his family.

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“Remember Almeyda, the Argentina midfielder who played with Parma and Lazio?” Cassano put to Il Mattino, “He stopped for two years then started again with River Plate, who play in a physical league.

“If I have the opportunity, I'll always make a difference. I'm 110 per cent, I feel good with my head and my body – as for the feet, I can play until I'm 60!

“I often talk with Ale [agent Alessandro Moggi], he performs miracles. I would like to play for a team near Genoa, where I live – maybe Bologna, Sassuolo, Parma, Turin... but also Empoli and Cagliari - because I cannot live without my family. 

“There are things that make a difference for me, like accompanying my children to school.”

Despite his advanced years, the ever-confident Cassano believes he can still be amongst the best performers in Italy, claiming that there are very few players in Serie A who can be considered champions – even with Cristiano Ronaldo having arrived.

Cassano on Serie A champions GFX

“Can I make a difference? In this league? Yes. Today's Serie A is a race with quantity, little footballing intelligence and quality. When I started at the end of the 90s, there were absolute champions. 

“I remember Fiorentina: they only reached sixth place with Edmundo, Batistuta and Rui Costa. Apart from Ronaldo, Higuain and Pjanic, I do not see many champions around. Some of the players today wouldn't have gotten close to the training ground 20 years ago.”

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