Bari hopeful of signing Antonio Cassano

Bari president Gianluca Paparesta has revealed that he is eager to sign free agent Antonio Cassano.

The 32-year-old forward left Parma by mutual consent earlier this week following a dispute over pay, and he has already been linked with moves to a number of Serie A clubs.

However, there is also interest from the second tier of Italian football, and Paparesta is hopeful of pulling off a shock deal to bring the former AC Milan, Inter Milan and Real Madrid attacker to the club.

"Cassano is a dream for the club and a club must have dreams," Paparesta told Corriere dello Sport.

"When I started refereeing I dreamt of doing it in Serie A and luckily I made it. One year ago I wanted to purchase Bari and it was a dream. Then it became reality.

"Cassano knows that, as far as we are concerned, he would be welcome at Bari and be loved by the tifosi."

Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri hinted earlier this week that the Serie A champions could make a move for Cassano.