Capello urges immature Cassano to grow up

By FOX SPORTS staff

A heated training ground argument between Cassano and Stramaccioni occurred at the end of last week, prompting the Inter manager to leave Cassano out of his match day squad for the team's Serie A game against Catania on Sunday.

The Italian international is no stranger to controversy as his hot-headed temperament has damaged several relationships he shared with several team-mates and bosses over the course of his career. Capello, who managed Cassano while at Roma and Real Madrid, coined the term Cassanata to describe any behaviour incompatible with team spirit in football and the phrase has since been adapted by local journalists.

Speaking to Radio RAI, Capello believed his former charge would never fulfil his potential because of his temper.

"It’s a shame, he could have done a lot more in his career than he has. I hoped that he would mature after the birth of his son, but, unfortunately, it is the same old story. He’s a good kid, generous, but he doesn’t understand that there are limits and when he lets loose there is no stopping him," he stated.

"He doesn’t know the boundaries when it comes to respect. This has influenced his career. He only sees football in his own way. That inevitably sees teammates sometimes lose respect for him. He needs to understand that, at certain times, he has to accept the decisions of others."

Although Nerazzurri president Massimo Moratti refused to elaborate on the incident between his manager and Cassano, he took on a more empathetic stance than Capello.

"Cassano is a talent, as we know, and artists are a bit special. Basically we need to understand him," Moratti said.