Unruly Cassano en route to AC Milan after row at Sampdoria

ROME - International football striker Antonio Cassano was expected to join AC Milan this week, after being fired from Sampdoria over a row with the club president, Italian media reported Monday.

Cassano, 28, was set to sign a deal with the Serie A front-runners to enable him to start training with them at a winter camp in Dubai Dec 27.

An official contract can be signed only when a month-long transfer window opens Jan 3. Cassano will them be available for the Devils when the Serie A resumes Jan 6.

Sampdoria sidelined the talented forward in late October after he reportedly insulted president Riccardo Garrone, who had asked him to attend an award ceremony in a town near Genoa.

The striker said he refused because he wanted to be with his pregnant wife but later publicly apologised to Garrone, asking to be readmitted in the team.

After Sampdoria asked for the contract to be ended, sports judges last week suspended Cassano until Jan 31, ruling that the club should keep him on at half-pay until his contract expires in June 2013.

Sampdoria, however, stuck to their original plan to fire him.

The Genoa club agreed to share with Milan and the player the 5 million euros ($6.6 million) that has to be paid to his former club Real Madrid.

The Spanish club allowed Cassano to join Sampdoria on a free transfer in 2007 but inserted a clause in the transfer contract requiring payment if he moved to another club before 2011.

At Milan, Cassano reportedly accepted a reduction of his current contract of 2.8 million euros. He is expected to sign a contract until 2014.

The career of one of Italy’s most talented players has been marred by tantrums on the pitch and frequent clashes with coaches and team officials.

He has scored five goals in 20 appearance for the national team.