Napoli reject €18m Lavezzi bid

 

Napoli have rejected Russian side Zenit St Petersburg's €18 million offer for striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, according to reports.

Sky Sport 24 claimed on Sunday that the Naples outfit have turned down Zenit's bid for their star player as it falls below the striker's €30 million release clause.

An earlier report in La Gazzetta dello Sport had earlier reported that the Russian champions had submitted a bid for the Argentina international.

Lavezzi has a contract with Napoli until 2015 and has also been linked with a move to Inter Milan as they prepare to find a replacement for Anzhi bound Samuel Eto'o.

However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis hopes he can persuade Lavezzi to stay at San Paolo.

The Argentine impressed for Napoli last season, helping them to a third-place finish in Serie A and UEFA Champions League qualification. 

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Bayern deny interest in Italian Midfielder

 

German giants Bayern Munich have denied they are preparing a bid for want-away Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo.

Montolivo has been linked with a move away from Fiorentina all summer long, with Italian champions AC Milan and Bayern reportedly leading the chase for his services.

However, Bayern director of football Christian Nerlinger has moved quickly to deny his club are interested in the Italian international, and declared that their transfer dealings for the summer have been concluded.

"There is no truth in the rumours [linking Bayern with Montolivo," Nerlinger said to Abendzeitung.

"We will not sign any more players this summer."

Montolivo's contract with Fiorentina expires next summer, but he has already told the club he has no intention of extending his stay.

As such, Fiorentina will run the danger of losing their midfielder general for nothing if they do not cash in on him soon.

Nevertheless, they have maintained all summer that they will only sell to a foreign club, and reportedly rejected an "indecent proposal" from AC Milan earlier.

Bayern have already strengthened their squad with the likes of Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng and Rafinha this summer, and currently lie third in the Bundesliga standings with two wins and a loss from their opening three games.

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Raul pledges future to Royal blues'

 

Veteran Schalke and Spanish striker Raul has pledged his future to the club amid rumor he was set to leave.

Raul met club officials this week to resolve his future after he was left out of the squad that lost 2-0 away to HJK Helsinki in the first leg of their Europa League play-off in midweek.

After Schalke rejected a bid from Blackburn for the 34-year-old last week there was speculation Raul was keen on leaving after one season at the Royal Blues.

But the former Real Madrid star, who started in the Sunday Bundesliga trip to Mainz, denied such talk and instead stated he was happy to remain in Gelsenkirchen for the final year of his contract.

"I never tire of repeating that I feel at home at Schalke," he said in a statement on the club's website.

"The affection shown to me by the Schalke fans is extraordinary and unforgettable. I'm definitively staying at Schalke and I will fulfil my contract.

"I'm fortunate to have a great family. My wife and my children and fully integrated in German life and I'm proud to be playing in the Bundesliga."

The Spaniard denied any rift with Schalke manager Ralf Rangnick and claimed he had been left out of the squad that flew to Finland to improve his fitness.

"It's good, proper and professional, as it should be between a coach and a player," he added.

"There are no problems. We're all concentrating on working together to achieve the best for Schalke this season."

Speaking about his exclusion in Helsinki, he added: "Although I can understand it being interpreted in various ways, perhaps because people didn't have the background knowledge, but I had spoken to the coach and we took the joint decision that I would have a rest and do some special customised training.

"There is nothing else to say."

Schalke general manager Horst Heldt welcomed the news after Raul scored 14 times in 36 games for the Royal Blues last season and helped encourage their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

"This clarity was important because it means we can now put the subject to bed and turn our focus back to our most important task, that of achieving success on the pitch with FC Schalke 04," he said.

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Modric a doubt for United clash

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has admitted that play-maker Luka Modric is in no state of mind to feature against Manchester United on Monday night.

Chelsea have been chasing Modric all summer and are ready to come in with a new £30million offer for the Croatian despite the impending arrival of Spaniard Juan Mata from Valencia.

Spurs have been clear in their declarations that they would not entertain offers for Modric, who wants a switch across London, but may now struggle to maintain that stance after 
Redknapp was forced to leave him out of the squad for his club's Barclays Premier League opener.

Modric is not 100% fit but Redknapp may have been prepared to risk on him had he been sure of the midfielder's commitment to the cause.

Instead, the play-maker will play no part against the champions.

Redknapp told talkSPORT on Sunday: "He's got a little bit of an injury. There's a possibility he could have played through it. But at the moment his head's not in the right place."

That judgment is telling given that Wenger was prepared to play Samir Nasri - thought to be close to a switch to Manchester City - against Liverpool at the weekend.

Gareth Bale has called on the squad not to grieve the loss of Modric if he does leave White Hart Lane.

Bale, like Modric, had an dazzling campaign for Spurs last season, and does not want the 25-year-old to leave.

He does think, however, that the squad cannot reside on his departure should he do so.

"Luka is a fantastic player," Bale said. "I'm not sure what the situation is with him but I think if he is here then he's great for the team but if he's not then we have to get on without him."

Spurs were without Modric and fellow midfielders Jermaine Jenas, Steven Pienaar and Sandro for last week's 5-0 Europa League qualifying win over Hearts match, but coasted to victory thanks partly to inspiring displays from replacements Jake Livermore and Niko Kranjcar.

Bale was overwhelmed with how the Tottenham squad coped against the Scots and thinks that bodes well for the team ahead of what promises to be a long season thanks to their participation in the Europa League.

"Luka and JJ (Jenas) didn't play so it gives confidence to the whole squad that we can play like that," the Welshman said.

"These players that came in are international players and they showed that they are all class. It shows what kind of squad we have got."

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Paris St. Germain told Berbatov not for sale

 

Sir Alex Ferguson has told French club Paris St Germain they have no chance of signing Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov.

In the immediate aftermath of his exclusion from United's Champions League final squad, it was felt the Bulgarian would leave Old Trafford this summer.

Even Ferguson has admitted it would have been no surprise if Berba had asked for a move.
However, during United's summer tour of North America, Berbatov stated he still had unfinished business at the club and felt any move away from the Old Trafford club would 
represent a step down.

That did not stop PSG making their interest known and, backed by an influx of money from their new Qatar-based owners, felt there was a good chance of tempt Berbatov move to France.

It took a quick chat between Ferguson and PSG director of football Leonardo to end that hope.

"I had Ferguson on the phone but he said he was counting on Berbatov and he was not for sale," said Leonardo after his side's 2-1 win over Valenciennes yesterday.

Although Berbatov did not start last week's Premier League opener against West Brom, his introduction as a second-half substitute did help inspire United to a 2-1 win.

And, with striker Javier Hernandez still ruled out as he completes his recovery from concussion, it would be no surprise if last season's joint Golden Boot winner was named for Monday night's Old Trafford encounter with Tottenham.

United will expect to win in order to keep pace with rivals Manchester City's flying start to the new season.

Yet, after winning their record 19th championship with only 80 points last season, in his programme notes ahead of Monday evening's clash with Spurs, Ferguson has suggested the number may once again be lower than the 90 that tended to be the target in previous years.

"It seems to me that the Premier League will be tighter than ever this season," Ferguson told United Review.

"We play in a strong league and it is getting stronger.

"I guess around 85 points will win it, maybe even 80 again, though we will certainly be looking to improve on that total."

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