Once touted as Italy’s best striker, Antonio Cassano has in the recent past failed to live up to his billing. Now, the 28 year old Sampdoria striker has been named in the shortlist for Italy’s Bidone d’Oro, or Golden Bin ‘award’.
The 28 year old has been at logger heads with Sampdoria chief Riccardo Garrone after a public spat in the club’s training grounds. That incident forced the club to apply to the FIGC (Italian FA) to have his contract terminated.
Discussions are still ongoing but it is becoming very likely that Cassano will leave the club sooner rather than later. Other players who are are also in the running for the infamous award are Fiorentina’s Adrian Mutu, Brazilian pair Adriano and Felipe Melo who have been winners, Fabio Cannavaro, Diego and Amauri and Inter players Marco Materazzi and Amantino Mancini.
A number of players in the shortlist have been lucky to win this award with some being so successful as to win it twice consecutively. Below is the list of previous winners since 2003:
2003 Rivaldo – Milan
2004 Nicola Legrottaglie – Juventus
2005 Christian Vieri – Milan
2006 Adriano – Inter
2007 Adriano – Inter
2008 Ricardo Quaresma – Inter
2009 Felipe Melo – Juventus
Surprisingly enough, all players this decade have come from teams considered traditional powerhouses. Adriano might have won the award twice but i feel that 2005 2006 were the best years of his career.
For all its worth, Adriano is one of the few Brazilian’s to have the most impressive goal scoring records with 27 goals in 48 appearances. In fact, the Brazilian could start for Roma in their Champions League fixture against Cluj on Wednesday.
Showing flashes of brilliance during Roma’s 2-2 draw with Chievo Verona on Saturday, Adriano pleased coach Claudio Ranieri so much so that the Italian is seriously considering giving him his first European start as a Giallorossi.
“I was pleased with Adriano’s performance,”
“I saw two weeks ago he was more determined and once he was back in shape I put him in the starting team. He’s on the right track.
“There’s already a great deal of the team in place; we have a nucleus, we have the players, but we still need to improve.”
Photo credit: from carol_realmadrid1
