The on-going Antonio Cassano saga has taken another twist with Italy coach Marcello Lippi still refusing to recall the Sampdoria striker.

Many have called on Lippi to recall the talented Italian who has shone for Sampdoria. But Lippi remains unmoved.

According to football-italia.net, Sampdoria President Ricardo Garrone had suggested earlier this month that “an ugly story” was in fact keeping Cassano out in the cold.

La Stampa even speculated that Cassano had got into a fight with Lippi's son Davide who is an influential football agent.

Interviewed in L'Espresso, Lippi said: “I am very sorry for Cassano as he is a good guy, but I have my own ideas, even though this incredible situation has been created.

“People say that I am stubborn and arrogant. My weakness is coherence. Fans and newspapers are like political parties. They all have their own candidate for La Nazionale. It's legitimate, God forbid.

“But, I follow my ideas with conviction and when I don't give explanations for them it's because I am sure that they would create even more polemic,” Lippi concluded.