Italy forward Antonio Cassano has denied he is poised to return to Sampdoria this month and has stressed he is happy at Parma.

The controversial 31-year-old striker insisted he has not been in contact with Samp president Edoardo Garrone or Sinisa Mihajlovic, the Genoa side’s head coach.

Cassano, who played for Samp from 2007 to 2011, told a press conference: “These rumours bother me.

“I’m happy and I want to stay in Parma. “I always said that I would go back one day to Sampdoria, but at Parma I’m treated like a king. I’m fine here.

“So far I have done well, but I’ll do even better in Parma. I’m sorry to have caused problems for the environment.

“I always said that I would love to return one day to Sampdoria, but I have not heard from Garrone, I have no relationship with Mihajlovic.”

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