Biography
Who is Antonio Cassano?
Early life and career beginnings
Antonio Cassano was born in Bari, Italy, on July 12, 1982. Raised in poverty by his mother in the San Nicola district, he began playing football on the streets at an early age before joining the youth system of his hometown club, Bari. He made his senior debut in Serie A against Lecce on December 11, 1999.
Just a week after his debut, Antonio scored a memorable individual match-winning goal against Inter Milan at the age of 17. His impressive technical skills and creativity quickly earned him nicknames such as Fantantonio and El Pibe de Bari during his two seasons with Bari.
Roma and Real Madrid years
In 2001, Antonio signed with reigning Serie A champions Roma for a significant transfer fee, becoming the most expensive teenage signing at the time. During his time with Roma, he won the Supercoppa Italiana and was twice named Serie A Young Footballer of the Year in 2001 and 2003.
In January 2006, he moved abroad to join La Liga club Real Madrid. Although he won a league title during his stint in Spain, his time with the club was also marked by controversies regarding his weight and discipline before he eventually returned to Italy.
Sampdoria and later clubs
Antonio joined Sampdoria initially on loan in August 2007, where he quickly rediscovered his best form. He formed a strong partnership with teammate Giampaolo Pazzini and helped the club reach the Coppa Italia final.
Following his successful spell at Sampdoria, Antonio spent single seasons with AC Milan and Inter Milan, winning another Serie A title and Supercoppa Italiana with AC Milan. He later played for Parma, returned briefly to Sampdoria, and finished his career after signing with Verona.
International career and personal life
At the international level, Antonio represented the Italy national football team on 39 occasions between 2003 and 2014, scoring 10 goals. He played in three UEFA European Championships and one FIFA World Cup, winning a runners-up medal at UEFA Euro 2012 where he finished as one of Italy's top scorers in the tournament.
In his personal life, Antonio is married to Carolina Marcialis. Standing at 175 cm tall, his career was frequently characterized by his short temper and outspoken personality, which even inspired the Italian sports journalism term cassanata.
Birthday and age
Antonio Cassano was born on July 12, 1982, which makes Antonio 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Antonio shares the date with 38 other famous people.
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