Sampdoria “star” bids farewell to his self-respect, for this lifetime at least

Antonio Cassano was not so long ago boasting of his qualities as a) a top class ladies’ man, steamrollering his way through the women of Madrid, and b) a model professional equipped with the supreme strength of mind required to turn his back on all that Spanish vagingo and focus once more on being brilliant at football.

Last weekend, playing against Torino, Cassano revealed another side to his personality, that of master sulker extraordinaire. Even in a country which is unrivalled in its command of the theatrical gesture, Cassano’s interpretation of “big mardy baby” must have left both sets of fans speechless with wonder.