Cassano exit moves closer after Roma call him a liar

Italy striker Antonio Cassano's troubled relationship with Roma touched new depths yesterday when the club's general manager called him a liar.

Cassano ended his silence over his contract dispute with Roma on Tuesday when he said that he had been willing to compromise over a new deal. But he also said the club were forcing him out and "making a fool" of him.

"He is a liar and our lawyers are evaluating his comments," said Rosella Sensi, Roma's general manager.

"I've said before that the Cassano issue is closed. I am not speaking anymore with someone who is incoherent... he is the one who is making fools of the club and the fans".

Cassano, one of Italy's brightest young talents, could leave Roma on a free transfer in June when his contract runs out but it looks increasingly likely that he will be sold during the transfer window in January.

A mid-season move would allow Cassano to get regular football in time to make a push for a return to the Italy side before the World Cup finals in Germany and would also enable Roma to claim a transfer fee. Cassano had said that he had twice made concessions over his salary but that Roma were not prepared to compromise. Sensi said that had not been the case.

"It is not true that he made two steps back. He has never done that and in fact we made a step forward in the negotiations," she said.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has made it clear that he views Cassano as a potentially key weapon in his side's bid for the World Cup next year but he has not called up the Bari-born forward for this season's qualifiers.