Antonio Cassano is preparing for his 200th Serie A game on Sunday when Sampdoria host Lecce at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, but as he revealed this week, he was lucky to play even once.

Cassano came from a working-class background, growing up in a poor area of Bari.

But shortly after he made his debut at the tender age of 17 for his home city, it was clear he was going to buck the trend of his old school friends.

"If there had not been that Bari-Inter (game), I would have become a robber or a mugger - a delinquent in any case," he wrote in his autobiography, which will be released on November 19.

"A lot of people I know got caught up in gangs.

"That game and my talent have taken me away from a horrible life.

"I was poor, but I have to point out that in my life I have never worked. That's because I don't know how to do anything."

For what he lacked away from the football field he has more than made up for on it, despite the occasional escapade tainting previous spells with Roma and Real Madrid.

But he has never felt more at home than now at Sampdoria where he has got his career back on the rails, and started to arouse interest once again.

"Lots of clubs want him," Samp general manager Beppe Marotta told Sky TV.

"We are proud to have a player who the big clubs want."

The way things are going, the Genovese club may be forced to sell him soon.

With just 10 points in as many games, the Blucerchiati are struggling at the wrong end of the table and certainly not matching either theirs or Cassano's ambitions.

That makes Sunday's game crucial, according to Cassano's strike-partner Claudio Bellucci.

"All that remains is to let the truth be known on the field," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"This Samp is far better than its league position.

We now have two home games against Lecce and Catania, two sides who are beatable.

"We have drawn the games we deserved to win and lost those where we deserved a draw.

"One thing is for sure: we are convinced of our value and we will not become nervous."

Bellucci and Cassano will return to the starting XI after being replaced by Emiliano Bonazzoli and Bruno Fornaroli in the midweek 2-1 win over Empoli in the Coppa Italia.

Hugo Campagnaro, Mirko Pieri, Luca Castellazzi and Daniele Franceschini should also return after being rested in that game.

Lecce arrive in Liguria on the back of a 1-1 draw with AC Milan last Sunday which confirmed their status as a resolute side in their first year back in the top flight.

Guillermo Giacomazzi is suspended, prompting coach Mario Beretta into a change of tactics.

"At the start of the season I was able to say we had worked with a 4-3-1-2 and a 4-4-2 system and we are prepared for both of them," he said.

"Sometimes you need to look at which one gives you more security, also depending on the players you have available."