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Italy striker Antonio Cassano has left troubled Serie A club Parma after rescinding his contract, with reports indicating he could head back to his hometown club Bari. The experienced 32-year-old departs Stadio Ennio Tardini with Parma propping up the league table following Sunday's home defeat to Cesena -- a result that left the Gialloblu 10 points from safety. A statement published on fcparma.com on Monday night read: "Parma have today reached a mutual agreement with Antonio Cassano to cancel his playing contract." Reports in Italy suggest Cassano had written to the club's new directorship demanding six months of unpaid wages. Parma were bought by a Cypriot-Albanian consortium in December. The former AC Milan and Roma striker was a second-half substitute in the 2-1 defeat to 19th-placed Cesena and was involved in a confrontation with an angry fan alongside head coach Roberto Donadoni at full time. Parma finished sixth last season to qualify for the Europa League but an unpaid tax bill led UEFA to deny them a European licence. The decision exacerbated growing financial problems and prompted former president Tommaso Ghirardi to sell on the club he had bought at an auction in 2007. Cassano has previously stated his desire to end his career with former club Sampdoria, although Serie B club Bari -- the city where Cassano was born -- appear to have made the first move to sign the now free agent, according to Sky Sport Italia. With the Blucerchiati already signing Luis Muriel and Samuel Eto'o during this transfer window, a return to Genoa seems unlikely for now while Cassano has also been linked with a move to Major League Soccer. Information from Ben Gladwell and PA Sport was used in this report.
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