Cassano claims Juve snub vindicated

Antonio Cassano said he made the right move to Inter Milan over Juventus – after previously rejecting the Italian champions thrice.

The enigmatic striker moved to the Nerazzurri from city rivals AC Milan in a swap-deal involving Giampaolo Pazzini in the off-season and hopes to repay the faith shown in him by coach Andrea Stramaccioni.

“I refused three times to go there (Juventus), they just want soldiers, people who only go straight on their tracks,” he told TV program Che Tempo Che Fa.

“Sometimes I have to go to the right, to the left, where I feel like.

“Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni really wanted me. What does he like about me? I don’t know. I just hope he didn’t make the biggest mistake of his life.

“Today life is all wine and roses for me. Tomorrow, I don’t know. But I have to thank him and president Massimo Moratti who were straight shooters with me and I’ll repay them on the pitch.”

Cassano has made a bright start to his Inter career, scoring four league goals in his first six appearances for the club, but is unsure of why he is not part of Italy coach Cesare Prandelli’s plans.

“I don’t know why I wasn’t called up but I hope to be taken into consideration all the way until the end for the World Cup,” he said.

“The thing I find a bit irritating is that the journalists find out who gets called to the squad even before the players do.”

Cassano also took the chance to take a sly parting shot at his former employers, claiming that he would sometimes feign injury to avoid training for the Rossoneri.

“The excuse that works best to get you out of training is to say that you’re having groin problems,” he said.

“They’ll run the tests and nothing will show up, but it’s my word against yours.”

Inter host Catania on Sunday, as they look to build on their victory in the Milanese derby.