The revelatory testimony: A shocking disclosure
Numerous athletes lead excessively indulgent lifestyles, yet Cassano arguably tops that list. Joining Real Madrid at the age of 23, Cassano was heralded for his immense potential. However, from the outset of his tenure at the club, the star became the subject of ridicule by fans, donning flamboyant fur coats and dazzling earrings.
At a tender age, the Italian star succumbed easily to the allure of fame and fortune. He used his wealth to indulge his pleasures, notably in the realm of romantic pursuits. Acknowledging his own shortcomings, Cassano admitted to being plagued by uncontrollable sexual desires. He once claimed to have slept with approximately 600 to 700 women before reaching the age of 25.
In his autobiography titled “Dico Tutto” (“I’ll Tell You Everything”), Cassano shared, “When you’re 20 years old and you like beautiful girls, there’s a certain power that allows you to do that every day. And I had the opportunity because I was a player for Madrid! If I did any other job, nobody would look at me! I’m good, but I’m not handsome.”
However, Cassano’s penchant for vice didn’t end with romantic pursuits. He detailed in his book his peculiar desires for both women and food, including a special arrangement with one of the hotel staff. He wrote, “His job was to bring me 3 or 4 pastries after I had relations. He would bring the pastries up the stairs, I would escort the girl to his place, and then we would exchange. He would keep the girl and I would take the pastries. Satisfying sex and then delicious food, it was a perfect night.”
At that time, Real Madrid’s sponsor was Nutella, supplying each player with 5kg of Nutella per month. It was akin to indulging in a devilishly sweet temptation for Cassano. He gained an additional 17kg due to his habit of spooning Nutella straight from the jar. Real Madrid attempted to control the situation, imposing fines for every gram of excess weight, leading to his new nickname, “El Gordito” (translated loosely as “Chubby Boy”).
Suffering from insufficient discipline in his lifestyle, Cassano’s football career was also marred by another significant blow. In 2002, while playing for Roma, Cassano clashed with coach Fabio Capello, even going as far as to call him “a miserable guy”. He successfully fled to Madrid to escape the strict coach, but in 2006, Capello assumed the managerial role at Bernabeu. This bitter reunion reignited past tensions, fracturing their relationship once more, and Cassano was forced to find a way to escape yet again.
The decline of a career
The lifestyle of excess described herein stands in stark contrast to the values of wholesome and modest upbringing experienced by Cassano in his youth. Born into impoverished circumstances in Bari, a city in Italy, Cassano was abandoned by his father, leaving his mother to raise him single-handedly. It was amidst the streets of the impoverished neighborhood in Bari where Cassano honed his initial football skills.
He caught the eye of the youth team before being elevated to the first team of Bari in 1999. Rapidly developing as a player, he began to garner attention with a spectacular goal against Inter Milan at the age of 17. Cassano was bestowed with the moniker El Pibe de Bari (The Kid from Bari), drawing inspiration from the nickname of the legendary Diego Maradona, El Pibe de Oro (The Golden Kid).
The match against Inter Milan marked Cassano’s departure from a life potentially marred by poverty, paving the way for a brighter future for himself and his family. Cassano joined Roma in 2001 at the age of 19 for a fee of £26 million, becoming the world’s most expensive young player. On the pitch, he excelled, winning the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year award twice.
However, following tumultuous times at Real Madrid, he returned to his homeland and donned the jersey of Sampdoria on loan. The club refrained from making his transfer permanent following egregious misconduct scandals. Nevertheless, Cassano exhibited decent behavior during his three years at Sampdoria, albeit occasionally succumbing to fits of anger and excessive impulsiveness. While it seemed Cassano’s career had been salvaged, he later clashed with the club president, Riccardo Garrone, leading to the termination of his contract.
In 2010, Cassano joined AC Milan, where he endeavored to restrain his volatile nature. Here, Cassano suffered a near-fatal stroke due to localized blood clotting. He underwent surgery to address his heart condition and took six months to recover. He admitted, “To be honest, I was afraid of dying, especially in the days leading up to the surgery.”
Subsequent to his journey with AC Milan, Cassano went on to play for Inter Milan, Parma, Sampdoria, and Hellas Verona before announcing his retirement in September 2017. Arriving at this final decision required considerable deliberation, which he revised five times. At the age of 35, after a career marked by highs and lows, it appears that his days of revelry have drawn to a close. Since 2010, he has been married to water polo athlete Carolina Marcialis, with whom he shares two sons, Christopher and Lionel (named after Messi).
Reflecting on his career, he stated, “That day comes, the day you decide that it truly is over. To play football, you need passion and talent, but above all, determination, and at this moment, I have other priorities. If I had a different head on my shoulders, I might have played on Mars. I might have been like Lionel Messi or Neymar.”
Leaving behind the days of frivolity, Cassano has garnered invaluable life lessons. He acknowledges making numerous regrettable choices in his career. “The jewel of Bari” was never able to shine brightly due to an inability to control desires, succumbing to temptations, and ultimately self-sabotage.