The situation of Antonio Cassano at Sampdoria is like a soap-opera. The attacker, locked in his house, sobbing and apologising to Garrone, who is rejecting them.

"Antonio is devasted" - said a friend of his - "If I did the same to my boss he would send me away and would be right" - said a builder. There is solidariety for him anymore, he made a mistake and it is right that he should pay for it.

Cassano has gone from being an icon to a ghost. He's disappeared from the club website, from the gadgets. He doesn't exist anymore.