New Club but Same Old Behavior: Will Antonio Cassano Ever Change?

By: Julian | April 2nd, 2011

Make no mistake about it: AC Milan put in the kind of performance that usually wins Scudetti. In the Derby Della Madonnina against Inter Milan, the top side in the league notched three goals to extend their lead to five points over Leonardo’s side. Pato was exceptional throughout as he scored a brace; his first goal was in the very first minute and put the Nerazzurri under enormous pressure right from the beginning. The last goal was scored by substitute Antonio Cassano, who had quite an impact.

He won a penalty, converted it, and then was sent off. In ten minutes.

The focus of the match- and plaudits- should be solely on Massimiliano Allegri’s side, who have now won both derbies in the league for the first time since they last won it. Leonardo’s Inter could be examined too: is the former Milanista anything more than a motivator? Due to the bizarre cameo by Fantantonio, however, one other question must be asked as well: is this one man who simply cannot change?

Cassano has always been a bit of a mad genius, and his past tantrums hardly have to be noted. From his infamous fallings out at Roma and Real Madrid to his myriad Cassanatas, it seemed as if the boy from Bari would never become a man. After being named as the centerpiece to Cesare Prandelli’s Italy side after the World Cup, however, it seemed as if maybe Cassano would finally change.

Maybe he would finally have an attitude worthy of his talent. Maybe he would finally stop being petulant, and instead focus solely on playing. For a while, it seemed as if this Cassano was truly a new one. His behavior improved, and despite being frozen out of Sampdoria, he’s done little in recent times to recall the Cassano of old. Until today.

Admittedly, the sending off may have been rather harsh. He earned his first yellow whilst taking off his shirt to celebrate the penalty he converted. The second came from an unnecessary tackle on Inter’s Ivan Cordoba- admittedly worthy of a foul, but an expulsion as well? Referee Nicola Rizzoli could have, perhaps, merely called the foul, given Inter the free kick, and let the game move on. At 3-0 up already, there seemed little reason to expel Cassano. Nevertheless, it is the sending off more than the successful rigore that fans will remember from the night.

The ramifications of the expulsion have yet to be determined but could be grave. His suspension will likely be just a single game in Serie A since he received two yellows and not a straight red. However, the consequences could be far worse for Gli Azzurri: if Prandelli sticks to his word about a meritocracy, Fantatonio will likely have to be dropped. Especially when taking into consideration that Daniele De Rossi and Mario Balotelli were not called up for Italy’s most recent games due to poor behavior.

His talent is undeniable. He stands alone as one of the few players Italy has produced over the past ten years or so who could, on his day, challenge for the title of world class. He has scored in every derby he’s played in for all of his clubs. His behavior, however, will always be remembered along with his dazzling footwork and keen eye for killer passes.

Milan gave Antonio Cassano another new chance, one more fresh start- probably the last of his career. He had an opportunity to show the world that he was more than just raw talent, to demonstrate that he could evolve, change and learn from his past.

With incidents like this, however, it seems as though that’s one opportunity he’ll never take.

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Follow Julian on Twitter for Serie A news coverage, updates on new posts, and more, @JulianDeMar.

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Category: Azzurri, Player Profiles, Players

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Pauly

If it were anyone else but Cassano, it would be considered a minor blip on the radar and nothing to pay too much attention too, but because of his past history - as usual - the media is making it out to be something bigger than it is, in my opinion.

That said, he really has to understand that because of his past he's walking on eggshells and has to know, by now, that everything he does will be under heavy scrutiny.
Marco

I highly doubt two yellow cards will give Cassano the boot. The Balotelli and DeRossi encounters were both horrendous challenges; one earning a straight red and poor standing within the team and the other earning a Uefa suspension. Cassano's two yellows, is in the same league with Buffon's red card for a challenge earlier in the year. Nothing major. Cassano's fine.
FrancescoItalyOffside

Cassano is Cassano. There's no middle ground, people either love him or hate him (I've always been in the former group). Yeah the sending off was stupid, but that second yellow was pretty harsh. Rizzoli was being a real stickler. And Prandelli shrugged it off too today, saying that it wasn't a big deal. Not to worried, and Milan fans know they won't see the real Cassano until next season, when he'll have a whole summer to work with MilanLab and shred some pounds. Madonna mia he is fat...
Pauly

Personally, I like him. He's crazy, but he's a genius...just saying that because it's him, the media makes a bigger deal of it.
ScudettoStarved

In a whole post about Cassano in the derby, no mention of how soft his "penalty" was? Zanetti barely had a finger on him before FatAntonio crumpled like he had been shot. What does that do for the game at 2-0 in the 90th min? Classless.
Dumitru86

wtf are you talking about? zanetti clearly puts his hands on him with the intention to obstruct.
ScudettoStarved

Watch the video again. Cassano didn't react to Zanetti's hand. A split second before the hand, Z's knee brushed the back of C's left leg. All of the sudden Cassano's left leg was limp.

I'm not saying I'm surprised. I understand the motivations behind diving to win a game or wasting time to kill a game. But at 2-0 in the 90th min, not to mention Inter w/ 10 men, the game was over. Cassano diving is just another example of his immature attitude. Which was blatant for everyone to see 45 sec later.
Mikey P

Myself being Barese-Canadian, you wont find many bigger Cassano fans/apologists around. While he would have to do something pretty absurd for me to completely write him off, those 2 yellows annoyed me to shit.

First yellow...

I still dont get this with footballers, you know its an automatic yellow for taking your shirt off. Why do it? Is there not a better way to express yourself in a moment of joy? Surely we can think of a better way to celebrate AND not get a completely useless, needless yellow card

Second yellow....

Yes, it was a tad harsh, the ref really didnt need to give it. But Antonio, why, in a 3-0 victory, in a extra time, are you going in late like that. Cordoba was right to sell it, and the ref's are never going to give Cassano the benefit of the doubt.

Long story short, there's always going to be a microscope on this guy, he will never completely change, which is too bad in some ways, but this par of his character is what makes him the mad genius he is. You take the good with the bad. As long as the good greatly outweighs the bad, the powers that be should be able to deal with it
Tottigol

WHO THE FUCK MADE BALZAC CRY? MORON OUGHTA BE LOBOTOMIZED!!

Even the best Italian full back is allowed a mistake, so whoever is criticizing Balzaretti can shove it.
Jose P

i like cassano. if he were to kill somebody i would say "Tony, get outta here...you got a match to play...i'm just a dumb blogger, i did this."
Dumitru86

nevermind
Pragathish

FantAntonio is what you call a "lovable idiot"
Melina

Don't you mean FatAntonio?
Guest

Listen, the point isn't that Cassano did something incredibly heinous. It's jut that these constant stupid actions accumulate...
If you isolate tonight's incident it's not a big deal, but will Cassano ever be able to move on? That first yellow was always a stupid and avoidable one, and his foul for the second yellow was equally avoidable and unnecessary. It was just so utterly unneeded to foul Cordoba like that...especially if he knew he was already on a yellow.
He's just kinda...dumb
Anthony

That's just Cassano, that's his attitude on the field. What do you want do about it. He's not the only player that's like that.
Anthony

No big deal, just one red card. everyone gets them at some point. At least he hasn't got in a fight with Berlusconi yet...
GORGE

I normally never say anything too harsh about the writers of this blog. I don't give A flying rats ass about the merde because they've been shown what they are this season.

You have let the Milanistas down by your comments after the game kiddo.

Cassano scored the final goal in a well deserved destruction of the blue and black half of milan. We didn't just beat the fuckers tonight, we crushed them. They thought they were getting back into the title race before tonights game.

We showed them that form may be temporary, but class is permanent. Equal in Scudetti by the finish of this year; one up next year when we regain our top spot from the Merde and the Juventini.

We are AC Milan. We fear no-one
jorid22

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.co...

This is without a doubt the most irrelevant response I have ever encountered in my life.

What Julian tried to get across through his post and what you responded with are not even in the same galaxy.
Julian

When Jorid sticks up for me you KNOW something is up
Nerazzurro

When an Interista agrees with Jorid you definitely know something's up.
jorid22

When Jorid reads that an interista agrees with him, you know he's off to wash the filth away with brillo pads and drano.
Elaine

Are you kidding? Nothing could let us down tonight. Just chill. They've gotta have something to talk about!

I love Cassano. If he ever changed, what would any of us ever have to talk about?!

(Well there was that kick-ass derby we won tonight, but I'm pretty sure people know about that by now!)
Julian

Right well the post really wasn't about the Derby as a primary point. It was really about Cassano.
Jeff

I find it hilarious that he was able to score and get two yellows in 10min, that takes skill
Pauly

It takes a commitment to remaining unpredictable!
jorid22

That is what seriously impressed me as well.
agiamba

Balotelli and De Rossi got benched for poor behavior, this is just two yellow cards. Admittedly avoidable, but different from elbowing Srna and doing God knows what Balotelli is doing these days in England.
Mikey P

Fully agree Aaron
Jose P

for the sake of italian football i hope Balotelli stays in England. we have it bad as it is right now. we don't need to be taken into the whirlwind.
asem

you mean kicking a guy in the chest? or throwing darts at youth team players? psycho...
Bais24

dude chill it was one red card, everybody gets them, have u seen him fight recently? no, that was the old cassano, the one who fought with everyone constantly. he hasnt gotten into trouble since joining milan, so really this article is just a pointless rant, well written though