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Italy striker Cassano signs for Real Madrid
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-04 09:15
MADRID, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Italy striker Antonio Cassano is joining Real
Madrid on a four and a half-year deal from Serie A club AS Roma, the Primera
Liga side said on Tuesday.
"Real Madrid and Roma have reached an
agreement over the signing of Antonio Cassano," Real said on their website.
"The 23-year-old Italian international will sign for the club until 2010
pending a medical examination which will be carried out on Wednesday.
"He will be presented to the media at the (Bernabeu) stadium at 1200 GMT."
Spanish media reported that Real had paid around 5.5 million euros ($6.54
million) for Cassano who had been embroiled in a dispute with the Italian club
over his contract which was due to expire at the end of the season.
The Italian, who has a reputation as a difficult character, cost Roma $28.5
million when he signed from Bari in 2001.
"I've always dreamed of playing in the strongest team in the world and now
that dream has come true," he told Real's website.
"Playing for Real Madrid is so important that I'm approaching it with a
mixture of delight and responsibility."
The striker added that he was confident he would be able to help the
nine-times European champions end their two-year trophy drought and win some
silverware this season.
"I'm the sort of player that likes to be a leader when I play and I like to
transmit my feelings to the people ... I'm convinced that we are going to play
well and that we can aspire to win everything."
FOLLOWING PANUCCI
Cassano, who is expected to be paid a net salary of in excess of 4 million
euros a year, is only the second Italian to sign for Real. He follows in the
footsteps of defender Christian Panucci who played for the club between 1997 and
1999.
The striker is the 11th new player to join Real in the last year and a half
and brings the club's total expenditure during that period to over 155 million
euros ($183.5 million).
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