Inter Milan forward Cassano names son after Barça’s Messi

MILAN - Agence France-Presse

Inter forward Antonio Cassano calls Barcelona’s Lionel Messi as his ‘idol.’ AFP photo

Antonio Cassano has named his newborn son after “the greatest player of all time,” namely Lionel Messi, according to the Inter Milan striker.

Cassano’s wife Carolina gave birth to the couple’s second son on March 18.

Cassano said he had named his son Lionel “in honor of the greatest player of all time, my idol.”

Cassano, who had to temporarily stop his career last year to undergo minor heart surgery, already has another son, Christopher.

The dedication to star Barcelona forward Messi is unlikely to be missed by fans of AC Milan, where Cassano played until a controversial summer move to Inter. Messi scored twice for Barca as the Spanish league giants overcame a 2-0 first leg defeat in the last 16 of the Champions League to run out 4-2 aggregate winners following a 4-0 second leg rout at Camp Nou.