Antonio Cassano has placed Real Madrid ahead of Roma for the European meeting at the Olimpico, but the former Italy forward believes the Spanish side will make the wrong choice if they surrender initiative and wait for their individual stars to decide the night.
| Key projection | Figure | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid’s chance of victory | 80% | Cassano’s assessment despite his admiration for Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini |
| Hypothetical result after a coaching swap | 10-0 | Cassano’s exaggerated verdict if Gasperini were coaching Madrid and José Mourinho Roma |
The coaching contrast is central to Cassano’s view of the contest. He called Gasperini an outstanding manager and argued that Roma have a clear football identity, while launching a fierce attack on Mourinho’s approach. Cassano said he cannot understand why Florentino Pérez would appoint Mourinho at Madrid, insisting the Portuguese coach’s football had become outdated around a decade ago.
In Cassano’s opinion, Madrid possess the stronger group of players and should still find a way through a difficult evening in Rome. But he warned that they cannot simply retreat and hope that Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham or Vinicius Junior supply the decisive moment. He urged Madrid to take inspiration from Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, a side he sees as bold, cohesive and committed to attacking together.
Roma’s belief against Madrid’s greater weight
Cassano expects Roma to play well at home, even if he gives Madrid a substantial advantage overall. His verdict is not based on Mourinho’s record, which includes far more trophies than Gasperini’s single Europa League triumph. Cassano said results and medals matter less to him than the football put on the pitch.
He claimed Mourinho’s career had produced conflict rather than a lasting football legacy, and suggested the coach had benefited from the work of his agent Jorge Mendes in securing high-profile jobs. Cassano’s criticism was uncompromising, although he accepted that Madrid remain, in his words, the greatest club in football history.
The former Madrid attacker also questioned the current hierarchy in the forward line. He regards Rodrygo as a better player than Vinicius and believes the Brazilian should start when fit. Cassano said Vinicius depends heavily on physical sharpness and, while capable of scoring, does not offer enough alternatives when below his best.
Arda Güler, meanwhile, has impressed Cassano but does not yet reach the level of Guti, whom he rates as his favourite member of Madrid’s Galácticos era. Cassano described Guti’s passing and left foot as extraordinary, arguing that the midfielder operated at only 40 or 50 per cent of his potential and possessed the quality to compete with Xavi, Luka Modric and Andres Iniesta. He believes Guti could have won the Ballon d’Or two or three times.
A former Madrid talent looking back
Cassano’s words carry the perspective of a player who knows both Rome and Madrid intimately. He spent five seasons at Roma before joining Real Madrid in 2005, a move he now regards as a major opportunity mishandled by his own lack of discipline.
He admitted that his presentation in Madrid, including what he now considers an unsuitable jacket and appearance, set an unfortunate tone. More seriously, he said he enjoyed eating and going out, did not want to train and was around 10 kilograms overweight. Cassano placed all responsibility for failing to establish himself at Madrid on himself.
He said that, with his present-day maturity, he could have spent a decade at the Bernabéu because he had the talent. Instead, despite training alongside Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane and Guti, he said his mind was elsewhere. Even so, he remains proud to have represented Madrid and says he is still recognised abroad for having played for the club.
Fabio Capello, who coached Cassano at both Roma and Madrid, remains the most influential manager of his career. Cassano admitted he treated Capello poorly at the time, but said their relationship is now excellent and that he has great affection for the Italian coach and his family.
From Rome to Genoa
Now 44, Cassano has lived in Genoa for almost two decades and says he is not involved in a conventional job. He appears on the Twitch programme Viva il Calcio with former players, valuing the freedom to speak without restraint.
He says he misses playing, but finds less personality and talent in much of the modern game than in his own era. Spain’s national team, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have been among the sides he has enjoyed, because they play with courage rather than merely running.
For Cassano, Lionel Messi remains in a category of his own. He considers Messi incomparable in football history, even at nearly 40, while also admiring Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Rodrygo. Francesco Totti was his childhood idol and a major reason why he chose Roma over Juventus, while Ronaldo Nazario was, in Cassano’s view, the finest central striker he encountered. He believes injuries denied Ronaldo an even more extraordinary career and rates him far above Cristiano Ronaldo.
After leaving Madrid, Cassano rebuilt part of his career at Sampdoria, where he met his wife and became the father of two children. The club remains closest to his heart. He accepts that he could have achieved more, but says he was happy: he reached Roma, played for Italy and wore the shirt of Real Madrid. For all his regrets, he does not believe he can ask for much more.
