Cassano: "If I'd trained like I should, I'd have been like Messi"

The former Italy striker said he only ever did "50 percent" of what he was capable of and admitted that he hated training and was a "disaster" at times.

Antonio Cassano, whose eclectic career has included clubs such as Real Madrid, Roma, Milan, Inter, Sampdoria and Roma, among others, gave an interview with Sky Italia in which he discussed his career, Gonzalo Higuaín and Mauro Icardi's possible departure from San Siro.

Career: "I played in some of the strongest sides in the world, I can’t say that I wasn’t happy or lucky. I even knew that if I screwed up I’d get another chance somewhere else. Like [former Roma teammate Francisco] Totti said a while ago, I only did 50 percent of what I was capable of doing. I was a disaster area sometimes and I hated training. If I had done what I should have done over the course of 15 years, I would have been like Messi.”

Cassano on racism: "The problem exists in Italy"

Criticism of Higuaín: “Instead of selling him, Milan should build a decent team around him. If I had a magic wand I’d put him at Inter in place of Icardi, because he is real champion. I’d say to Icardi: ‘If you want to leave, cheerio: have a nice trip.’ That’s what I think.”

Racism in Italy: “There are things that I can’t understand, we are all the same. In my opinion the problem exists in Italy; I get the impression that we really are a racist country.”