Antonio Cassano has slammed his former club Sampdoria after they refused him permission to continue training with their youth team.
The 34-year-old saw his contract terminated prematurely in January, after he had spent the first half of the season training with the youth team since he was no longer under consideration for involvement with the first team.
The former Italy international had been hoping to keep himself fit with the Serie A club's younger players, but he said that instead he was humiliated in front of teenagers by the club's bosses, who told him to pack his bags and leave the club for good.
"In a scene worthy of an Oscar, directed by [president Massimo]Ferrero/[club lawyer Roberto] Romei/[coach Marco] Giampaolo this afternoon, in the total absence of any guts, they decided to get [sporting director] Carlo Osti to tell me that, as of tomorrow, I can no longer train with the young lads of Sampdoria," Cassano wrote in a statement published on his wife Carolina Marcialis' Twitter account.
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- Carolina Marcialis (@chriscarol99) February 28, 2017
"What was the reason for it?! -- 'I'm too much of a burden!'" Cassano has been unable to agree on a move to another club this winter, turning down offers from China and, reportedly, also from Serie B club Virtus Entella since he still feels he can perform at the highest level.
He has nevertheless vowed to carry on training alone in a bid to return with a new club next season.
"Therefore, my parenthesis with Sampdoria ends here and I wanted to pay my thanks to just a few people, including [youth team coach] Ciccio Pedone and all of his staff for having given me the opportunity to train with them, and then I'd like to thank all of the young lads who made me get emotional today by showing me all their affection and esteem.
"I am going to continue to keep myself in shape because I know I can still give a lot to football."