Antonio Cassano's future is in doubt after Sampdoria reportedly requested permission to terminate his deal.
Striker facing sack following row with Sampdoria chief
Antonio Cassano's future has been thrown into doubt after Sampdoria reportedly requested permission to terminate his contract.
The Serie A club have asked Italian League authorities for consent to annul the striker's deal with immediate effect following his altercation with club president Riccardo Garrone, according to local press reports.
The 28-year-old has allegedly been suspended by the club after a spat with Garrone on Tuesday, during which he is understood 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.
A club statement on Friday read: "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."
Devastated
Cassano's agent Beppe Bozzo says the player is devastated by the events and feels betrayed by the Genoa club.
"I've heard he is absolutely depressed," Bozzo told Italian newspaper
Il Secolo XIX. "Antonio, in this moment, is a broken guy.
"He gave a lot to Sampdoria and he's absolutely bound to the team, but now he feels betrayed.
"I myself did everything possible to put things right. I came to Genoa and I personally listened to the phone call between Antonio and president Garrone.
"When I left everything was okay. Sincerely, I don't understand the logic of (the situation)."
Press reports claim Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus would be interested in signing the wayward star, a regular under new Italy coach Cesare Prandelli.
