Madrid unveil Cassano

Lengthy negotiations
Following weeks of speculation in the Spanish and Italian media, Madrid finally agreed a €5.5m deal - the biggest of the transfer window so far - with AS Roma for the 23-year-old following 12 hours of talks. Cassano, who has penned a contract until June 2010, arrived in the Spanish capital late yesterday afternoon ahead of medical tests this morning. "He's a very talented player; a goalscorer, an international, a dream signing," said Madrid coach Juan Ramón López Caro.

'Dream come true'
Cassano, who will hope to make his debut along with fellow new arrival Cicinho at the weekend, said: "I've always dreamed of playing in the strongest team in the world and now that dream has come true. Playing for Real Madrid is so important that I'm approaching it with a mixture of delight and responsibility. I'm the sort of player that likes to be a leader when I play and I like to transmit my feelings to the people - I'm convinced that we are going to play well and that we can aspire to win everything."

No discussion
Nicknamed 'Il genio di Bari vecchia' - the genius from old Bari - Cassano learned his football in the poor back streets of the southern Italian city. Having starred for his hometown team, he joined Roma for €28.5m following the Giallorossi's championship-winning season in 2001 and went on to score 48 goals in 178 Serie A appearances. He has scored three times in eight games for Italy and was arguably the Azzurri's star player at UEFA EURO 2004™.