Controversial Italian forward Antonio Cassano will have his Sampdoria future decided in a couple of days, according to the president of the arbitration board charged with ruling on his contract.

Sampdoria have applied to have his contract terminated for gross misconduct while Cassano himself maintains that he wants to stay at the club.

He is said to have severely insulted club president Riccardo Garrone during an argument in October and has been frozen out by the club ever since.

“Today we must hear what the different parties have to say and then we will retire to decide but we have another case at 16.00 so it would be difficult to come to a decision today,” board president Paolo Giuggioli said earlier yesterday.

“It’s more likely that a decision will be taken in a couple of days but certainly no later than December 16 (Thursday).”

Three members of the league’s arbitration board met last week to study the possibility of reconciliation between Cassano and his employers, but no agreement could be found.