Regarding Cassano, his teammates all gave him full recognition. After the match, Ibrahimovic said: "Cassano and I have good cooperation; he is an excellent player who provided two outstanding assists today and could be a great help to the team." Allegri also expressed: "Cassano's physical condition is getting better and better. If this continues, he will get the opportunity to start." Another beneficiary of Cassano's assists, Pato, also praised: "Cassano is extremely talented, a smart and cheerful guy who has performed excellently in the last two games." Gattuso explained the incident from the previous round where Cassano used his shin guards, laughing: "It was because he didn't bring his shin guards, while I usually carry two pairs." Regarding this new friend, Gattuso said: "Cassano is a surprise; despite not yet being at his best form, he has already provided three assists in 40 minutes."
In the game against Cagliari, Cassano came off the bench to assist Strasser, helping AC Milan secure a full 3 points in a tough match. In the game against Udinese, under the circumstances of a 1-3 deficit, Cassano was once again called upon in a critical moment. After coming off the bench, he provided two assists, helping AC Milan draw 4-4 with their opponent. With 3 assists in 2 matches, there are no more doubts about Cassano—this acquisition is undoubtedly successful.
So far, Cassano has maintained silence in front of the media, but in AC Milan's locker room, he has already begun to integrate well with his teammates. His first press conference will be held after Galliani returns from Brazil, which can be said to be a "long-delayed debut" as he joined in late December but only held the conference in mid-January. However, it’s fine because with these performances beforehand, Cassano's upcoming press conference will surely attract even more attention.
In just two matches, Cassano provided three assists, and his greatest advantage lies in his ability to find the clearest passing route in the shortest time and amidst the most chaotic situations. According to Opta statistics, in this match, Cassano played for 26 minutes but made four dangerous passes, becoming the player who delivered the most threatening balls for AC Milan. Even Abate's chance in the final moments originated from Cassano's cross. At the same time, Cassano completed 16 out of 16 passes, showing excellent accuracy. Apart from one instance where his trick in the midfield was exposed, AC Milan rarely lost possession from his feet. More impressively, TV cameras captured that during the first half, Cassano applauded and cheered for his teammate Robinho on the bench. The "TuttoMercatoWeb" commented: "No emotions, no jealousy, only respect, Cassano has integrated well into the environment of AC Milan."
When Udinese changed the score to 4-3 at the 88th minute and the San Siro fans were almost losing hope, it was Cassano again who received Ibrahimovic's header pass, in the same position, with another through ball between the legs. Immediately, a clear path opened up in front of Ibrahimovic, who pulled the ball back with his foot, feinting past the last defender rushing towards him, and then beat Handanovic one-on-one, changing the final score to 4-4. Broadcast commentator Pardo exclaimed: "Cassano's two assists were decisive; AC Milan's attacking line has tremendous potential. If Cassano returns to his best form, this will be an extremely destructive forward line."
Now, more and more people believe that AC Milan's acquisition of Cassano was a successful deal, even though Moggi once worried: "Cassano might disrupt the existing balance of AC Milan." But Moggi was mistaken this time. In fact, Cassano's arrival gave Allegri one more option. Former Napoli General Manager Marino said: "Can you imagine? A player like Cassano obtained for free, I can't think of a more successful transaction!"
At the 68th minute, Cassano replaced Seedorf to come onto the field. At the 71st minute, he completed his first dangerous pass, sending a perfectly timed straight pass down the left sideline to Antonini, who did not need to slow down before reaching the baseline and returning the ball. The opposing defender cleared the ball just ahead of Robinho. Three minutes later, Cassano sent a direct pass, and Ibrahimovic received the ball inside the penalty area, returned it, and by this time, Cassano had already followed up to the edge of the penalty area. Although he slightly overran the ball, he cleverly redirected it to Pato. Pato's long-range shot was blocked by the opposing defender, and Ibrahimovic's follow-up shot narrowly missed the target. At the 81st minute, the moment of Cassano's assist arrived. He received Silva's straight pass in front of the penalty area. Despite being surrounded by Udinese defenders, he made the most accurate decision in the blink of an eye. Just like in the game against Cagliari, at the same position and along the same route, Cassano's pass went through the legs of a defender and directly reached Pato's feet. Pato flicked the ball with his right foot to bypass the opposing defender and immediately scored with a left-footed strike.