Italy’s Cassano retires for 3rd time

MILAN: Veteran former Real Madrid and AC Milan forward Antonio Cassano on Saturday announced his retirement for the third time just days after the ex-Italian international returned to training.

“The day has come, the day when you decide it really is over,” said Cassano, who had returned to training with Serie C side Virtus Entella last Monday.

“Over the last few days of training, I realised that I no longer have the mentality to train consistently,” said Cassano, whose last competitive match was for Sampdoria in May 2016. “In order to play football, you need passion and talent, but above all determination and at this moment I have other priorities.”

The 36-year-old Cassano — who played for Roma, Real Madrid and both Milan clubs during his career — had first announced he was retiring just a week after signing for Hellas Verona in July 2017.