Roma striker Antonio Cassano faces a fine from his club after failing to turn up for training on Saturday.
The Italy Under-21 international missed training and did not call the club to explain his absence. As a consequence, Cassano was omitted from Fabio Capello’s squad for yesterday’s Serie A match with Perugia.
Roma general manager Fabrizio Lucchesi confirmed that the player would be fined and warned that further punishment may come his way if Capello sees fit.
‘We will fine him and (coach Fabio) Capello can think about the rest,’ Lucchesi told Italian news agency ANSA.
‘As a 20-year-old you can do a few foolish things but he has done a little too much.’
Cassano’s absence could well be due to his disappointment at being left out of the side that faced Real Madrid in the Champions League last week.
‘He can feel how he wants but for me the matter is clear – Capello has 26 players and Cassano needs to play by the same rules as everyone else,’ added Lucchesi.
This is not the first time the nascent career of Cassano has been dogged by controversy. He was left out of the Italy Under-21 side last season after clashing with coach Claudio Gentile.
