|
|
|
 |
 |
| Sampdoria ordered to reinstate Cassano |
 |
Sampdoria have been ordered to restore Antonio Cassano to their first-team squad on February 1 - but Cassano will only receive 50% of his wages for the remainder of his contract, which expires in 2013.
Cassano was banished from the club in October following a heated row with club president Riccardo Garrone in the changing room.
The Lega Serie A arbitration panel ruled that Cassano's suspension must come to an end at the end of next month. Samp had attempted to rip up his contract but were told they had no grounds to do so.
Cassano's wage has been slashed in half to €5.35 million-a-year.
Sampdoria confirmed the ruling had been made in a statement on their website: "The arbitration panel has ruled to suspend Antonio Cassano from training and from receiving wages until January 31, 2011.
"To reduce the player's wages to 50% from February 1, 2011 until June 30, 2013, the date when his sporting contract ends. For Antonio Cassano to pay the legal costs involved in the proceedings.''
The club and Cassano's agent Giuseppe Bozzo had met last week in mediation with the arbitration panel but were unable to find a solution, leading to Thursday's ruling.
Though his suspension is due to come to an end there appears to be no future for him at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, and he has been strongly linked with a loan move to AC Milan. But any permanent transfer would trigger a €5 million payment to his former club, Real Madrid, which may put his suitors off.
"There are no winners or losers," Bozzo said. "There is the bitterness that there was before as it's always difficult because it does not happen every day for a club to ask to rescind a player's contract.
"Even if the defence has done a great job, avoiding the contract being rescinded, this does not mean anything and now we will try to work together with Sampdoria and with its president (Riccardo) Garrone to find a solution to the problem.
"The player has been suspended until January 31, 2011, to eventually be reinstated on February 1. In this way there is the winter transfer window to make use of in order to find a solution.''
Milan forward Robinho has revealed he wants the club to bring in Cassano. Reports on Thursday evening suggest a deal could be close between the Rossoneri and Samp.
"I would like to play with Antonio," he said. "I have already done it at Real Madrid. He is a very strong player."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
