Cassano aiming to shed bad-boy image at Real
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-06 06:56

Cassano replied by saying it was a "dream come true to play for the strongest and most famous club in the world.

"It is a very emotional moment for me," he added. "It is one thing saying you want to play for Real Madrid, but quite another when you are presented to the fans at the Bernabeu."

One of the brightest prospects in Italian football, Cassano has made just five Serie A appearances this season because of injury and his contract dispute with Roma.

The striker passed a medical with the club without any problems, but admitted that he was not yet fully fit.

"I've not trained for 15 days and I'm not in ideal shape, but if the coach wants to play me straight away then I will be delighted."

Stiff competition

Cassano is the 12th player to join Real since they won their last major trophy in June 2003 and brings the club's total expenditure during that period to over 185 million euros.

His arrival will allow Real to fill the gap left after the departure of Michael Owen and injury to club captain Raul.

The Italian, who will face stiff competition for a place in the starting line-up with close season signings Robinho and Julio Baptista also bidding for a spot alongside Ronaldo, said he was unworried at being labelled as the club's new 'galactico'.

"I don't mind if I'm called a 'galactico', but the important thing is to prove it on the pitch and I will do just that."

He also made it clear that he was targeting a return to the Italy squad ahead of this year's World Cup.

"The first thing I want to do is to regain my form and then convince (Italy coach Marcello) Lippi to take me to Germany. Without being arrogant I believe that if I'm on form then I'm the sort of player he should be taking."