Allegri plays down Cassano Euro hopes

AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri admits he does not know if Antonio Cassano will be fit to lead Italy’s attack in Euro 2012.

The forward was last month forced to undergo heart surgery and is facing an indefinite period on the sidelines.

There have been claims from some quarters that the 29-year-old could be back in action within as little as four months, but Allegri is unsure if Cassano will play again this season.

“He is on the road to recovery after the heart surgery, though I don’t know if he’ll manage to be fit in time for Euro 2012,” the Rossoneri coach told Verissimo.

“Now he needs to focus only on recovering.”

Allegri, though, is more certain that he will sign a new deal with Milan which will keep him at San Siro until 2014.

“I don’t think there will be any problems over my contract renewal, as everything is fine with president Silvio Berlusconi and (vice-president) Adriano Galliani,” he said.

“I will stay at Milan, save for (any) surprises, and would like to thank the club for this opportunity.”

Allegri made his name as a coach with Cagliari before being appointed as Milan coach last summer, going on to lead the Rossoneri to the Serie A title in his first season at the helm.