8. Antonio Cassano (Bari to Roma £24m)
Like Balotelli since, Cassano was once the brightest hope in Italian football, and Roma paid £24m for him in 2001 to partner him with Francesco Totti in what they hoped would be a devastating strike force.
Unfortunately for Cassano, his similarities with Balotelli do not end at their £24m transfer fees. His career too has been blighted by ill-discipline and he has bounced around Serie A without every truly fulfilling his potential.
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