Sampdoria general manager Beppe Marotta has declared they're ready to sign Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano.

Marotta said: "Cassano wants to return to Italy and wants to join Samp, which makes us proud. He's outside our budget, but something could still happen.

"We are now waiting for a decision from Real Madrid. I want to repeat that we are speaking about a truly evocative acquisition, but also an operation that is very expensive and much bigger than our budget allows.

"We have not put together an offer, but we record with pride the fact that the boy has expressed an intention to wear our shirt."