In Italian football, tales of eccentricity and flamboyance are not uncommon, but Italy’s Antonio Cassano takes the cake—quite literally. Once hailed as Italy’s next golden boy, the enigmatic forward’s career took several twists and turns, leaving a trail of headlines and controversies. From his £25 million transfer to Roma to his infamous claim of having slept with over 700 women by the tender age of 25, Cassano’s life was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride.
Back in the early 2000s, Cassano was the talk of the town—a prodigious talent bursting with potential. His dazzling skills on the pitch earned him a reputation as a future star, and a lucrative transfer deal to Roma cemented his status as one of Italy’s most promising footballers.
However, beyond his on-field prowess, Cassano’s personal life was as captivating as his footballing exploits. In his audacious 2010 autobiography, the footballer dropped a bombshell, claiming to have slept with a staggering 700 women before reaching the age of 25. A claim that raised a few eyebrows in the footballing world and further intensified the media’s fascination with the Italian superstar.
As if his exploits between the sheets weren’t enough to stir controversy, it was his peculiar post-sex ritual that left fans bewildered and the media in a frenzy. According to Cassano’s own words, after a passionate night, he would indulge in an unusual treat—by gorging on sweet pastries. Personal favourites of Cassano would be Almond croissants and danishes.
“In Madrid, I had a friend who was a hotel waiter. His job was to bring me three or four pastries after I had sex,” Cassano revealed candidly in his autobiography. “He would bring the pastries up the stairs, I would escort the woman to him and we would make an exchange. He would take the girl, and I would take the pastries. Sex and then food, a perfect night.”
While some might find his post-love-making ritual perplexing, to say the least, for Cassano, it seemed like a fitting reward—a way to satisfy not only his carnal desires but also his sweet tooth. And in his own unconventional way, he combined two of life’s pleasures into one unforgettable night.
As expected, Cassano’s revelation caught the eye of numerous news outlets, with tabloids and sports journals dedicating pages to discussing the strange behaviour of the football maverick. The quirky tale further solidified his image as a man who played by his own rules, both on and off the pitch.
While Cassano’s career trajectory didn’t quite reach the soaring heights many had predicted, his candid autobiography became a bestseller, earning him admirers and critics alike. Some hailed him for his fearless honesty, while others questioned the wisdom of divulging such intimate details of his private life.
In the following years, Cassano continued to court controversy, bouncing from club to club, never quite fulfilling the immense potential he had shown in his early days. Nevertheless, his audacious spirit and unapologetic demeanour remained unchanged.
As the years passed, the memory of his peculiar pastry indulgence became just another chapter in the colourful tale of Antonio Cassano. While the footballing world might never see another player quite like him, one thing remains certain—whether on the pitch or in the bedroom, Antonio Cassano always knew how to keep the world talking.
Antonio Cassano’s story is etched in funny football folklore—a meteoric rise as the next golden boy, an outrageous claim of bedding hundreds of women, and his croissant-fueled sex romps. He lived life to the fullest, unapologetically embracing the bizarre on and off the field. Love or loathe him, Cassano is undoubtedly an interesting character.