'Ibrahimovic won't play with Cavani'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will leave Paris Saint-Germain after refusing to play alongside Paris-bound Edinson Cavani, according to Aurelio De Laurentiis.

The 31-year-old only arrived at the club from AC Milan last summer, but with the Uruguay international believed to be close to joining PSG in a €60 million deal, the Napoli chief claims Ibrahimovic will seek pastures new after being angered by the prospect of sharing striking duties with another marquee name.

"Ibrahimovic will not play with Cavani, he has been promised a transfer," he told Tutto Napoli.
De Laurentiis then ruled out the prospect of the Sweden international, whose current deal with les Parisiensruns until 2015, moving to Naples, or Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski."Lewandowski will not come, he will go to Bayern or Monaco."

The Partenopei chief then took a swipe at Cavani, suggesting his decision to leave Stadio San Paolo was motivated purely by money.

He added: "Cavani is attached only to the money."

The 26-year-old has been linked with almost every major club in Europe during the summer transfer window, but les Parisiens' financial strength appears to have won the race for his signature.

Earlier in July, PSG boss Laurent Blanc revealed his interest in Cavani, but also insisted that he could play alongside Ibrahimovic.

Read more...

Napoli sign Rafael Cabral

Napoli have completed the signing of Santos goalkeeper Rafael Cabral for a reported €5 million.

The Partenopei had been heavily linked with a move for the 23-year-old in recent weeks, and the Brazilian giants confirmed a deal has been struck which will see the youngster join the Naples-based outfit on a five-year-deal.

Serie A rivals Roma had reportedly entered the race to sign the stopper but, speaking to Santos' official website, Rafael confirmed the promise of Champions League football available at Stadio San Paolo heavily influenced his decision.

He said: "I have the opportunity to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, with one of the five best coaches in the world who has won the Champions League [Rafael Benitez]. All of this weighed heavily in my decision."

Rafael, who initially joined the Peixe as a 13-year-old, had previously expressed a desire to retire at the Vila Belmiro - a promise he intends to keep despite opting for a move to Europe.

"I've always had a desire to end my career here," he added.

"However, I have a dream of playing in the Champions League and becoming a champion of Europe, but I still wish to end my career at Santos."

The Brazil international conceded just 208 times in 194 games, at an average of just 1.07 per game, in his three years as first choice goalkeeper.

Read more...

I turned Cavani into a star - Mazzarri

Walter Mazzarri believes that Edinson Cavani would not have become the star he is today were it not for his guidance at Napoli

.

The Uruguay international, 26, joined the Partenopei from Palermo in the summer of 2010 and has since developed into one of the most sought-after players in Europe, with Paris Saint-Germain ready to pay €63 million for his services.

Nevertheless, Mazzarri has insisted that Cavani was nowhere near his current level some three years ago and has the new Inter coach and his staff to thank for his rise to prominence.

"The young players I had at Napoli became top players thanks to the work we did," Mazzarri said at a press conference.

"Cavani too, he was an average player when he arrived and at Napoli he turned into the Cavani he is today."

The 51-year-old voiced his confidence that his spell at Inter will be a success, insisting he has never before failed to meet the demands of a club.

"I've always achieved the targets I've been set," he continued. "I think the players should trust me and we can try to fulfil our potential on the pitch. My focus is always on the next game and the next three points."

Inter finished a lowly ninth in last season's Serie A, leading to the dismissal of Mazzarri's predecessor Andrea Stramaccioni.

Read more...

Napoli sign Callejon

Napoli have confirmed the signing of Jose Callejon from Real Madrid for a fee believed to be in the region of €10 million.

The Spanish attacker has signed a four-year deal with the Serie A club, and brings his second stint with his boyhood club Real Madrid to a close by agreeing to the move.

The 26-year-old made 40 appearances under Jose Mourinho at the Santiago Bernabeu last term, but will now hope to help his new club build on their second-place finish in the Italian top flight.

Callejon began his career with los Blancos' C and B teams, after graduating from the club's youth academy, but after growing frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities in the Spanish capital, he moved on to Espanyol in 2008.

His time at the Catalan club was the most successful of his career up until that point, as he made 106 appearances over three seasons, scoring 12 goals.

That form convinced Madrid to bring him back to the club for a fee of €5.5m, and the forward would go on to play a prominent role in their 2011-12 title-winning campaign.

He has now opted to take on a new challenge, however, and will link up with Napoli as they begin life under new boss Rafael Benitez.

Read more...

Callejon set to join Napoli

The 26-year-old is on the verge of leaving the Santiago Bernabeu for the Partenopei, the Italian club have confirmed on Tuesday.

Napoli have revealed they are set to sign Real Madrid striker Jose Callejon.

The 26-year-old came through the youth ranks at the Santiago Bernabeu but left the club for Espanyol in 2008 before rejoining los Blancos three years later.

But he is now edging towards departing the club for a second time after failing to secure regular first team football at the club, as Rafa Benitez's Naples revolution continues.

"In the early afternoon, Jose Callejon landed in Napoli and will carry out medical examinations tomorrow morning," Napoli confirmed on their official Twitter page.

The former Spain Under-21 international's impending arrival could pave the way for the Partenopei to finally sanction the sale of striker Edinson Cavani.

Paris Saint-Germain have been strongly linked with the Uruguay international following coach Laurent Blanc's revelation that the Ligue 1 champions are interested in his services.

Read more...

Jose Mourinho to splash the cash on one of three top strikers

The new boss is hoping to top the record £50million fee owner Roman Abramovich paid Liverpool for Fernando Torres on one of three top striker targets.

Chelsea are expected to offer Napoli a reported £50million-plus for their first choice, Uruguyan striker Edinson Cavani, with whom they are understood to have already agreed personal terms.

If that fails – probably because Paris Saint-Germain are seemingly prepared to pay the £56million the Italians want for Cavani – Abramovich and co are expected to switch their attentions to the Brazilian striker, Hulk, who has indicated his willingness to quit Zenit St Petersburg despite a lucrative contract that doesn’t expire until 2017. to offer Napoli a reported £50million-plus for their first choice, Uruguyan striker Edinson Cavani, with whom they are understood to have already agreed personal terms

Their third choice is the much sought after Polish international Robert Lewandowski, who has only a year left on his contract with Borussia Dortmund.

The Germans don’t want to sell him, but if he forces their hand they would prefer him to go to Chelsea rather than Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, the club the player himself fancies.

Mourinho wants at least one of them as competition for Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku, especially as he has indicated that he is prepared to let Demba Ba go little more than six months after Chelsea signed him from Newcastle.

The big spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala have already been linked with him even though he has indicated that he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Read more...

Leandro Damiao set to join Napoli, not Southampton

The Brazil striker is expected to be the replacement for Edinson Cavani at Stadio San Paolo.

One of Damiao's representatives has admitted that there is a clear front-runner in the race to land the 23-year-old.

Vinicius Prates told Radio Gaucha: "There is a club that intends to sign the player. The interest exists."

Damiao has emerged in the last week as being one of the names on the top of Mauricio Pochettino's shortlist of potential signings.

Tottenham had been long-term suitors but their interest is understood to have cooled in recent months.

And despite Saints' attempts, new Napoli boss Rafael Benitez is reported to be the favourite to bring Damiao to Europe.

However, the exact transfer fee - said to be around £18million - remains unclear, with Prates adding: "The reported value is a lie."

[Source : Sky Sports]

Read more...

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini claims Napoli have struck a deal with Paris Saint-Germain over star striker Edinson Cavani.

Cavani has been linked with a number of Europe’s biggest clubs recently, including Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City, but in an interview with Radio Radio, Zamparini has revealed the terms of a transfer with PSG.

"I have texted [Napoli president Aurelio] De Laurentiis to congratulate him on doing even better than I did [while dealing with PSG].

"He has outdone the €43 million (£37 million) that we got for Javier Pastore when we sold him to PSG," Zamparini told Radio Radio.

"De Laurentiis had to make this deal. He did well to say that he wanted a transfer fee like this.

"Cavani is a unique player. He couldn't stay at Napoli because he has to think about his career and PSG are offering him €8 million (£6.9 million) per year."

The comments follow a report in Le Parisien stating the transfer could be officially announced on Tuesday.

Cavani played alongside Pastore at Palermo before moving to Napoli in 2010 in a deal reportedly worth €17 million. [Source : ESPN]

Read more...