In a candid interview on the BSMT podcast hosted by Gianluca Gazzoli, former Italian striker Antonio Cassano opened up about his time at AS Roma, particularly his complex relationship with Francesco Totti. Cassano described his experience at Roma as “wonderful,” but it was marked by several conflicts with his teammate.
Cassano recalled his early days in Rome, saying, “When I arrived, Totti and his family took me into their home for the first four months and made me feel like a son.” However, this hospitality was soon overshadowed by a misunderstanding. “One day I argued with him because I couldn’t find a check, and I accused them of stealing it, but it was under the car seat. I reacted that way because at that moment I was afraid of my own shadow; it was a lot of money.”
The relationship between the two players was further strained by financial disputes. Cassano admitted, “We argued again when we went to ‘C’è posta per te’ (a popular Italian TV show). At the time, I was a promising 19-year-old, while he was already one of the best in the world at 25. In my madness, I thought: why should he earn more than me?”
Their reconciliation came through the intervention of Vito Scala, Totti’s trusted confidant. However, peace was short-lived. Cassano explained, “Then I argued again because we had to renew our contracts – me, him, and Montella. I had a verbal agreement with Franco Sensi. I remember his daughter took over the situation, and that agreement vanished because I argued with her.”
The tension escalated in the locker room. Cassano recounted, “I found out that both Totti and Montella seemed to have renewed but not yet made it official. I went to the locker room and insulted both of them.”
Despite their personal conflicts, Cassano acknowledged their exceptional on-field chemistry. “We went 6-7 years without speaking because I saw the world my way. Totti was the player I got along with best on the field. I don’t know if the off-field understanding influenced it. I think there was a qualitative understanding because even during the period we weren’t speaking, we did some extraordinary things on the field.”
