Early Career: Bari and Roma
Cassano began his professional career at Bari, a Serie B team, where he made his debut at the age of 17. In his two seasons with Bari, he managed to score an impressive 11 goals in 49 appearances. His performances caught the attention of Roma, and he moved to the Italian capital in 2001.
During his four-year spell at Roma, Cassano’s goal-scoring ability continued to improve. He found the back of the net 39 times in 118 appearances, establishing himself as a rising star in Italian football.
Career Highs: Real Madrid and Sampdoria
In 2006, Cassano left Roma and signed with Spanish giants Real Madrid. Although he had a tumultuous time in Madrid, he still managed to score 9 goals in 35 appearances for the club. His time at Real Madrid was marked by inconsistency and clashes with the coaching staff, and he eventually returned to Italy.
It was at Sampdoria, where Cassano truly hit his stride. During his three seasons with the club, he notched an impressive 35 goals in 115 appearances. This goal-scoring form helped Sampdoria achieve historic successes, including a fourth-place finish in Serie A and qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
Later Stages: AC Milan and Inter Milan
Cassano’s next move was to AC Milan, where he played for two seasons. During his time there, he scored 21 goals in 76 appearances. He then had a brief stint at Inter Milan, where he scored 4 goals in 28 appearances.
Later Years and International Career
After leaving Inter Milan, Cassano had a couple of short spells at other Italian clubs before retiring in 2018. During those final years, he scored a few more goals but none significant enough to impact his overall tally significantly.
On the international stage, Cassano represented Italy 39 times, scoring 10 goals. He was a part of the Italian squad that lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy in 2006, although he had a limited impact on the tournament.
Throughout his career, Antonio Cassano has scored a total of 129 goals for club and country. From his early days at Bari to his success at Sampdoria and his time at various other top clubs, Cassano’s goal-scoring ability has been a significant aspect of his career. Although he may not be remembered as one of the all-time great goal scorers, his flashy style of play and technical skills have certainly made him an entertaining player to watch on the field.