There was contrasting news for many of the fantasisti around Europe, after this weekend’s footballing action.
First stop Italy and worrying news for Antonio Cassano of Milan who was rushed to hospital with a mysterious illness after Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over Roma in the Italian capital. ‘Fantantonio’ suddenly became disorientated and suffered from impaired speech, blurred vision and exhaustion on the flight back home and was instantly taken to hospital upon landing at Malpensa airport. An initial series of tests proved inconclusive so the fantasista was transferred to the neurological department of the hospital where he will undergo tests on his heart and brain.
A club statement read: “Antonio Cassano felt unwell on Saturday evening’s flight back from Rome. The player is undergoing tests at the Policlinico in Milan.”
As of Monday morning, the good news is Cassano’s said to be feeling much better, but will be kept out of action whilst medical staff continue to monitor his situation over the next few days, as confirmed by AC Milan’s chief doctor Rodolfo Tavana: “The boy was not well, we’re investigating. He won’t be travelling to Minsk and will be out of action for several days.”
Suffered 'stroke like' symptoms: Cassano
The former Roma man had been in great form recently, having scored two wonderful goals for Italy and assisted three times in last week’s epic comeback victory against Lecce – although he only appeared for the last 16-minutes of Saturday’s game at the Stadio Olimpico. Get well soon Fantantonio!
Over to France and PSG’s record signing, Argentine fantasista Javier Pastore was restored to the side after their midweek shock defeat in the League Cup at Dijon. He returned with a goal; a sweet strike with the outside of his right foot at a rainy Parc des Princes, ensuring the Paris club remain top of Ligue 1, winning 4-2 versus Caen.
Across the Channel to the English Premier League and Rafael van der Vaart continued his amazing goalscoring run, netting with another lovely curler, in Spurs’ convincing 3-1 win over QPR. That’s now 6-goals in the last five league appearances for Tottenham’s Dutch playmaker; most of them fine works of art.
Bang in-form. Spurs' van der Vaart scored again
David Silva had a relatively quiet game by his standards after last week’s derby heroics leaving it to the other diminutive Spanish playmaker in the Premier League, Juan Mata, to score an absolute belter; a thumping 20-yeard left-foot strike into the top corner. Mata’s joy was short-lived however as his Chelsea team crumbled to a 3-5 defeat at home to Arsenal – where their number-10 goal-machine Robin van Persie netted a hat-trick. Nobody has scored more goals in the English Premier League in 2011 than van Persie.
Finally to Spain and Kaka’s recent return to something like his old-self has earned him a recall to the Brazilian national team set-up. There, he’ll face competition for the playmaker role from former Barcelona fantasista Ronaldinho, who himself has recently celebrated a recall to la selecao (report here).
A treble treble. Messi gets his third hat-trick of the season
Speaking of Barcelona, the current greatest number-10 in the world, Lionel Messi, yet again inspired Barcelona to another 5-0 victory (their most common scoreline under Pep Guardiola’s management at home), firing in a first-half hat-trick – making that his third treble of the season.
Finally, speaking of Argentines and greatest number-10’s, the last mention on this fantasista round-up has to go to a certain Diego Armando Maradona, who celebrated his 51st birthday on Sunday. Being born on what is known as ‘mischief night’ seems quite fitting for a player who used to cause mayhem and havoc to both opposition and authorities throughout his glorious career.
¡Feliz cumpleaños Diego! Not only the greatest number-10 and fantasista the world has ever seen, but also the greatest player the world has ever seen!
Happy Birthday Diego!
