Ex-Real Madrid star Antonio Cassano in hospital in Italy with Covid after health dramatically deteriorated
FORMER Real Madrid playmaker and Italy international Antonio Cassano has been hospitalised in Italy after contracting Covid-19.
His wife Carolina Marcialis confirmed that the 39-year-old had tested positive for the virus over the Christmas period.
He contracted the virus in the final days of 2021, but after spending 'several days' isolating, now requires hospital treatment after his condition worsened.
He was admitted to hospital today, according to local outlet .
Cassano is receiving treatment at the San Martino hospital in Genoa due to suffering from complications due to the virus.
However, Marcialis has taken to social media to reassure fans that the former pro is 'doing well' in hospital.
She also claimed that Cassano has received two doses of vaccination against Covid, contrary to some media reports.
Regarded as a player who possessed brilliant natural ability, Cassano's career never really reached the heights it was expected to.
He struggled with weight problems, and had a terrible disciplinary record as a player that saw him in tangles with referees and even his own team-mates.
Cassano spent two years with Real Madrid, but made just 19 appearances for the LaLiga giants, although he did win the title in 2007.
But his weight became such a concern that he was fined for every gram he was overweight, and was eventually banished from the first team squad by manager Fabio Capello.
His real success came in his home land Italy, where he turned out a combined 400 times during spells with multiple Serie A clubs.
Cassano won the league title with AC Milan in 2011, and also played for the likes of Roma, Sampdoria and Inter, among others, before retiring in 2018.
The controversial figure also played 39 times for Italy, between 2003 and 2014, but wasn't part of the Azzurri's 2006 World Cup winning squad.
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