Cassano, whose career has been marred with sometimes spectacular bust-ups with successive coaches, last week joined Samp on loan from Real Madrid after his exclusion last season for disciplinary reasons from the first team squad with the Spanish club.

Even though Fabio Capello has been replaced by Bernd Schuster as Real coach, the Spanish club had indicated that Cassano was now surplus to requirements.

Cassano, 25, has vowed to use his year at Sampdoria to get back into the national side and Donadoni indicated he would be willing to pick the player who was omitted by his predecessor Marcello Lippi from the squad that won the 2006 World Cup.

"He called me before arriving at Samp and that pleased me," said Donadoni of Cassano in remarks reported by www.gazzetta.it.

"I found he was well disposed and looking to build a rapport with me. It was like he knows who to confide in and who to talk with not only about professional matters but also personal matters."

Donadoni hinted at an imminent recall for Cassano who was omitted from the squad for Wednesday's friendly with Hungary but also fired a warning shot across his bows.

"This time I want it to be an explosion for him," said Donadoni. "He understands that too - time passes for everyone."