Yeah, we had no idea he’d come out of retirement again, either…
Not for the first time in recent memory, Antonio Cassano has announced his retirement shortly after appearing to join a new club. The former Italian international, now 36, had recently started training with Virtus Entella of Serie C. It was expected he would build his fitness up at the club before making an(other) unexpected comeback.
However, a statement released on his behalf by reporter Pierluigi Pardo (via Football Italia), has confirmed that Cassano has abandoned his latest attempt to relaunch his playing career.
Lettera di Antonio #Cassano che annuncia il suo addio al calcio. pic.twitter.com/fU33mTrapy
— Pierluigi Pardo (@PIERPARDO) October 13, 2018
‘The day has come, the day when you decide it really is over,’ the statement reads. ‘I thank President Gozzi and the Entella boys for the opportunity they allowed me. I wish them all the best.
‘However, over the last few days of training, I realised that I no longer have the mentality to train consistently. In order to play football, you need passion and talent, but above all determination and at this moment I have other priorities.
‘I want to thank all the friends and teammates I worked with over the years, the opponents, the Coaches and directors (yes, even those I had arguments with).
‘Above all, I want to salute the fans, those on my side and in opposition, because without them football would not exist.
‘Football has given me so much. It allowed me to meet magnificent people, great champions and common folk. It took me off the street, gave me a marvellous family and above all allowed me to have so much fun.
‘Still today, whenever I watch a game, I remain hypnotised. It’s the best sport in the world. Yes, I know, if I’d had another personality I could’ve won more and played better, but believe me, I nonetheless experienced incredible emotions and today have the only things that really matter. My family, friends and zero regrets.
‘Now the second half of my life begins, I am curious and fired up to prove first of all to myself that I can do good things even without the help of my feet.
‘Thank you to everyone, from the heart.’
This is the second time Cassano has come out of retirement, joined a new club and swiftly abandoned his comeback. He did the same thing last summer after signing for Hellas Verona. However, unlike that situation, it appears the former Roma and Real Madrid forward had not signed a deal with Entella, and was merely training with them on a trial basis with a view to earning himself a contract.
