The 25-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the club, after having spent the season in Genoa on loan from Real Madrid.

A statement on the club's official website read: "UC Sampdoria announces it has acquired the sporting rights of Antonio Cassano from Real Madrid.

"The player has signed a contract until June 30, 2013."

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Cassano endured a difficult time in Madrid, where his behaviour on and off the pitch plus a persistent weight problem ended in him being left out of the side by then-manager Fabio Capello.

This season he has been revived thanks to his move back to Serie A, earning himself a place among the Azzurri squad for Euro 2008 after hitting 10 goals in 22 games for Sampdoria.

And Cassano could not hide his delight at having made the move permanent.

"I'm very happy. I'm now officially a Sampdoria player and I've never hidden that this was my main desire," he told the Sampdoria website.

"I've taken a big pay-cut, that's true, but I certainly won't miss it: the tranquility, feeling good within yourself, these emotions in life are often priceless."

Cassano went on to thank those involved in his transfer, while reserving special thanks for Sampdoria chief executive Beppe Marotta for bringing him back to Italy last season.

"I have to give a special thank you to Marotta," he continued.

"He wanted me at Samp last year when I wasn't very popular and here he has allowed be to get back into the national side and be able to smile again. And for me being happy is the most important thing."