Cassano names son after Messi
The Inter forward is a big fan of the Argentinian maestro and has chosen the name Lionel in honour of the 4-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“I named him Lionel because I’m a massive fan of the best player in history. My wife wasn’t keen, but then I convinced her,” he stated in an interview with TV program Undici.
“In my opinion, Messi is the most important player in history. I’m in love with him on a footballing level.”
Little Lionel, who was born on Monday, is the second child born to Cassano and his wife Carolina. Their first child, Christopher, was born in 2011.
The 30-year-old Italian international has previously played for Roma, Real Madrid, Sampdoria, and AC Milan, where he spent a season and a half and won a Scudetto before being traded to Inter in a deal that included Giampaolo Pazzini plus approximately €7 million in favor of the Nerazzurri.