Cassano to stay at Sampdoria

Sampdoria chief Beppe Marotta has said that the club may use the option to keep hold of Italian international Antonio Cassano on a full-term basis. The striker has been in superb form since returning to Serie A.

"Cassano has shown us he is willing to stay here, and he is even ready to give up some money," Marotta told a private Italian TV channel about the possibility of making his move to the club permanent.

According to Marotta, "the fee already set by Real Madrid for his purchase is around €5.5 million. We may ask for some postponements in the payments, but the negotiations with the Spanish club have been really positive."