Cassano: I used to starve

By Football Italia staff

Antonio Cassano admits “I knew what it was like to starve”, before his famous winner for Bari against Inter “made me become rich and famous.”

Cassano shot to prominence all the way back in December 1999, aged just 17, when he ran 40 yards and rounded the goalkeeper to hand Bari a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Inter.

“For 17 years, I knew what it was like to starve. Really,” the much-travelled forward, who retired last year, told former Roma and Inter midfielder Olivier Dacourt on Canal Football Club.

“My mother was a cleaner, and with the little money she earned, we’d eat on 3,000-4,000 lire [between €1-2].

“My mother made so many sacrifices. She never went to school and doesn’t speak Italian well.

“I played on the streets, in the alleyways. I’d play for whoever gave me the most money. That 4,000-5,000 [between €2-3] was used to help the family.

“That match against Inter made me become rich and famous. Football works wonders…”

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