Cassano not part of the squad.

Antonio Cassano is not among the 23 players called up by Real Madrid manager Schuster for pre-season training, which will take place in Irdning (Austria). No official explanation has been given by the club, not even by captain Raul, who said: “You would have to ask the sporting directors about this. He did not show up for training today and that’s all we know, that he won’t travel with us.” After today, the player’s departure from the club seems closer than ever.

Cassano Banned from training.

Controversial Italian forward Antonio Cassano is edging nearer the exit door at Real Madrid, according to the Spanish press who said Wednesday he had been kicked out of training by his coach Fabio Capello.

Cassano, who joined Madrid a year ago from Italians Roma, has struggled to gain a first team spot at Real.

And with Capello signing highly-rated Franco-Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain last month, Cassano's path to the first team seems to be blocked by ever more obstacles.

When asked if his arrival could hasten Cassano's departure, Higuain replied: "I have come here to win a place in the team.

Whether Cassano is here or not changes nothing." Earlier this week, Real president Ramon Calderon admitted Cassano had failed to adapt to his new surroundings.

Cassano set for Real exit.

Italian international striker Antonio Cassano is set to end his nightmare year at Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old five million euros buy from AS Roma is not wanted by coach Fabio Capello - under whose aegis he played at Roma - after failing to settle and a series of incidents which irritated the team management.

"They have had enough of his moodswings," said sports paper AS on Tuesday.

"Capello and sports director Pedja Mijatovic want him to leave."

Several Italian clubs including Roma, who bought him for 28million euros shortly after they won the 2001 Scudetto, and AC Milan could be interested in Cassano according to the paper, though, Real will not let him go for just any price.

Also his estimated wages of 4million euros a year could complicate any eventual transfer.

Cassano's international career has suffered accordingly since he scored on his Italy debut against Poland in November 2003 and played for the Azzurri at the 2004 European championships in Portugal where they went out in the first round group stage.

Subsequent to that he was left out by Marcello Lippi because of his expanding waistline and loss of form and not even the move to Real last January could reignite his faint hopes of making the World Cup squad.

He has, though, caught the eye of Lippi's replacement Roberto Donadoni having been included in one of his squad's for two Euro 2008 qualifiers though he was subsequently dropped from the next two.

Cassano staying with Real Madrid.

Antonio Cassano is staying at Real Madrid and has no intention of leaving despite an unsettled time in Spain.Cassano has struggled for first-team football since arriving at the Bernabeu from Roma and speculation has suggested he could return to Serie A either in January or next summer.

There has also been talk of a bust up with boss Fabio Capello, but despite the rumours, the player's agent has insisted his client will be staying with Real. "He won't leave Real," said agent Giuseppe Bozzo. "I have reaffirmed this personally. Cassano is not for sale and he hasn't asked to leave. We are at Real Madrid - the world's strongest side."

Cassano going nowhere - agent.

Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano will not be leaving the Spanish capital according to his agent, despite rumours to the contrary.

The former Roma marksman is thought to have fallen out with coach Fabio Capello, prompting the Spaniards' sporting director Pedrag Mijatovic to suggest in an interview that Real were ready to let the 24-year-old make a move back to Italy.

But the player's agent has hit back, saying his client is going nowhere and will honour the remainder of his contract at the Bernabeu.

"Cassano will leave Real Madrid? Absolutely not," Giuseppe Bozzo said. "I heard Mijatovic's interview, but I don't think it was meant to be controversial.

"He knows that Antonio does not want to move from Madrid and I also confirmed this to him personally. Antonio will remain until the end of his contract in 2011.

"We are at Real Madrid, the strongest side in the world, there is an existing contract in place and a new cycle is starting. Could you ever leave now? No way."

Cassano returns to Madrid training.

Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano returned to full training on Saturday, a day after the club lifted his suspension for criticizing coach Fabio Capello.

Madrid said Saturday that Cassano had been included in its squad for Sunday's league visit to struggling Osasuna.

The Italian replaced Ronaldo, who is sidelined for a month with a knee injury.

Madrid allowed Cassano to resume training after receiving an apology at a meeting with club officials on Friday, sports daily Marca said.

The 24-year-old forward reportedly lost his temper with Capello after the coach ordered him to warm up on the touchline for nearly all the second half of Madrid's 3-1 win at Gimnastic Tarragona on Oct. 28.

Cassano, who joined Madrid from AS Roma in January, had been exercizing alone since then.

Source:
http://www.metronews.ca/storyCP.aspx?pg=./R111105AU.xml

Real Madrid's Cassano suspended from training.

Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano has been suspended from training after an incident following the Primera Liga match against Gimnastic in Tarragona on Saturday, the club said in a statement on Monday.

Real said Cassano, who spent the game on the bench, had shown a lack of respect for coach Fabio Capello after the game but gave no details of the incident.

Spanish newspapers said Cassano had confronted Capello, demanding to be a first-choice player. The Italian has started few games this season.

"I deserve to play and be a starter," sports newspaper AS quoted Cassano as saying to Capello after the match which Real won 3-1.

Real Madrid said that in addition to the unspecified suspension, the player will also be fined.