Lippi delighted with Cassano move

Italy coach Marcello Lippi expressed his pleasure with Antonio Cassano's move to Real Madrid from AS Roma, stating that his new team could enhance his chances to make Italy's squad for the World Cup finals in Germany.

"I wish him the best of luck. I hope he can do the best thing for a footballer and that is to play football, now he can do that in a great side," Lippi was quoted as saying by Football Italia magazine on Wednesday.

"He now has five months to put himself into the spotlight in order to aspire to a World Cup place," he added.

Real Madrid signed Cassano on a four-and-half-year on Tuesday to put an end to his long contractual-dispute with Roma board.

Although no financial details were announced, Spanish media reported that Cassano will receive $6.54 million.

The 23-year-old featured rarely under the Azzurri coach due to his problems with Roma which kept him out of the capital side's squad most of the Serie A campaign.

The former Juventus boss stressed that Cassano's move outside the Italian Serie A won't have any effect on his chances of playing in the World Cup.

"I follow all players with the same amount of attention, even those ones who are abroad," he said.