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PSG´s Pogba interest is ´source of pride´, says Agnelli
6 March 2014
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli insists Paris Saint-Germain's reported interest in Paul Pogba is a "source of pride" for the club.
Midfielder Pogba has caught the eye of a number of leading European clubs this season, with Ligue 1 leaders PSG among those consistently linked with his signature.
However, while stressing Juve have no intention of letting the 20-year-old France international, who joined from Manchester United in 2012, leave, Agnelli feels the levels of interest in Pogba represent a tribute to the Turin outfit's scouting system.
"PSG's interest in him? Attention of the big clubs cannot frighten you, but it is a source of pride," he is quoted as saying at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. "You have to stay calm.
"I don't see the reason why we should deprive ourselves of Pogba - he is our growth. Every season we try to make Juve stronger, and Pogba stays with us.
"Two years ago nobody knew Paul Pogba, and (CEO Beppe) Marotta and (sporting director Fabio) Paratici were good to find him, now Juventus want to find other Paul Pogba."
Reigning Serie A champions Juve currently sit 11 points clear at the top of the division, ahead of Roma, who have a game in hand.
Francesco Totti will be "received like a king" if he joins Brisbane Roar, believes the club's vice-chairman.
Chris Fong has confirmed that Roar are keen to sign the 37-year-old Roma forward and points to the success that Totti's former international team-mate Alessandro Del Piero has enjoyed in the A-League as a reason why he should consider moving to Australia.
Totti has made 648 appearances for Roma in his 22-year career at the club and has a contract until 2015, but Fong is refused to give up hope of luring him to Brisbane.
"It would be great for Brisbane Roar if we could sign a great champion like Totti," he is reported as saying to the Corriere dello Sport. "He is an incredible player and everybody knows him.
"Del Piero has become an icon at Sydney and Francesco could achieve the same at us.
"He is already a legend and he will be received like a king in Australia – the A-League is on the rise ever since the arrival of Del Piero.
"I know what Totti means to Roma, but you never know in football."
Brisbane currently sit top of the A-League by 13 points from Western Sydney.
Milan turn their attention to on-field matters as they travel to Udinese on Saturday in the week that the club has denied being up for sale.
The Serie A giants were reported to be seeking investment via Lazard Ltd - the same company used by city rivals Inter to seal Erick Thohir's takeover last year.
Fininvest, Milan's holding company, dismissed the reports as "unfounded" in an official statement released on Wednesday.
And the focus will return to football this weekend when Clarence Seedorf's charges attempt to secure a morale-boosting win at Stadio Friuli ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash at Atletico Madrid next Tuesday.
Milan will head to Madrid trailing 1-0 from the first leg of the round-of-16 tie and still very much in the hunt for a place in the quarter-finals.
Seedorf's men suffered a 2-0 defeat against Serie A leaders Juventus last Sunday, having dominated the first half at San Siro.
Milan had won their previous two leagues games - against Sampdoria and Bologna - prior to that setback and they will be eager to get back on track against an out-of-sorts Udinese, who are without a win in five games in all competitions.
Cristian Zapata is available to return after recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since January and the Colombia defender is expecting a stern test against his former club, and in particular experienced forward Antonio Di Natale.
He told Milan's official website: "I feel good and I'm happy to be back fit after the injury. Udinese aren't in good form but it'll be a tough match.
"They'll be waiting for us with real determination to win. We know that we'll have to give everything to get the three points and that's what we'll do when we get to Udine. The Friuli stadium is not an easy one to play in.
"I enjoyed my time with the club and I'd like to thank Udinese for those years. These are matches that Di Natale shines in, he's their reference player and we'll have to be very wary of him."
Milan striker Mario Balotelli could return after being sidelined by a shoulder problem, while midfielder Andrea Poli is hopeful of featuring despite suffering a head injury against Juve.
Udinese will be without suspended defender Danilo, who serves a one-match ban after being shown his fourth yellow card of the season in the 3-0 defeat at Cagliari last Sunday.
Francesco Guidolin masterminded a 2-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final win at San Siro in January and the Udinese coach could do with a repeat performance, with his side having dropped to 15th in the table - just seven points above the relegation zone.
Parma's Carvalho Amauri celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick during their Serie A soccer match against Fiorentina, at Parma's Tardini stadium, Italy, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)
MILAN: Looking to continue their impressive home form, Juventus can extend their Serie A lead when they host Fiorentina Sunday. Second-place Roma visit Napoli later, hoping to keep up the pressure on the leaders. AC Milan visit Udinese Saturday.
Here are five things to know about Serie A this weekend:
JUVE ON TRACK Juventus continue to stride to a third straight Serie A title and have extended their lead at the top.
A 2-0 win at AC Milan, combined with second-place Roma being held to a goalless draw by Inter Milan, saw Juventus move 11 points clear – although they have played a game more than the capital side.
“The title’s not already won, but we took a big step forward last weekend,” Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said. “I don’t feel as if we already have our hands on the title because behind us there is a team which isn’t involved in Europe and can win all its matches from now until the end of the season.”
Juventus have won all 13 of their home league matches this season.
TEVEZ FIREPOWER Carlos Tevez is one of the driving forces behind Juventus’ charge to a hat-trick of Serie A titles.
The Argentina forward scored again with a 25-meter shot to help Juventus to a 2-0 victory at AC Milan last weekend.
It was Tevez’s 15th goal of the season, putting him at the top of the scoring chart, one ahead of Fiorentina’s Giuseppe Rossi, who has been out injured since January.
“He kept us alive at the beginning of the season when we had a few difficulties,” Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said. “Now he has achieved prestigious figures which makes us even greater.
“Milan played a great game and could have won, but Tevez scored a great goal which sealed the match and made us happy.”
GOMEZ URGES PATIENCE Fiorentina will be looking to their own star striker to make the difference as they aim to become the first team to win in the league at the Juventus Stadium since Sampdoria’s shock victory 14 months ago.
Mario Gomez has yet to score after recently returning from an injury to his right knee, which sidelined him for more than five months.
“I’m good at the moment, I don’t feel pain anymore,” Gomez said. “I’m not worried about not getting a goal since I’ve come back because in my career I have always scored. But you need patience because for my teammates I am still a new player, we need to find and improve our understanding.
“I know that everyone is expecting me to do the same as before, but it’s not easy. But I feel good, and I am ready to start against Juve.”
Gomez was Fiorentina’s marquee signing when he joined from Bayern Munich for a reported 20 million euros ($26 million).
He scored twice in his second league match for Fiorentina but was injured on his next Serie A appearance, against Cagliari Sept. 15.
Fiorentina lost 1-0 to Lazio last weekend and have only won one of their past six league matches.
POSITIVE PARMA Parma are placed surprisingly high in the Serie A table and could edge out Italian footballing giants Inter Milan and Fiorentina for a European spot.
A remarkable run has seen Parma remain unbeaten since the beginning of November, a club record total of 14 matches.
Parma host high-flying promoted side Hellas Verona Sunday in a match that is a direct battle for a European spot. Verona and Parma are level in the Serie A standings, just one point behind Inter and five behind Fiorentina, although Parma have a game in hand on all three of those teams.
“We are happy with the standings, we are sixth having played a game less,” Parma President Tommaso Ghirardi said.
“It’s a positive period, we’re beating the records set by our greatest team, which won eight cups and fought for the title.”
NAPOLI TARGETS SECOND Roma have to pick themselves up swiftly after seeing their Serie A title hopes grow even fainter.
The capital side were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Inter Milan and fell 11 points behind leaders Juventus. They face a tricky trip to Napoli Sunday, with the hosts looking to snatch second place from Roma.
“I can’t lie, the title is gone,” Napoli coach Rafa Benitez said. “We have to focus on aims which we can achieve: second spot, and making us ready for next season, creating the right mentality.”
Napoli, who have drawn their past two league matches, are third, six points behind Roma, who have a game in hand.
Juventus and Fiorentina will be familiar foes in the next few weeks and the first of their three encounters this month will be on Sunday.
There appears to be no stopping runaway Serie A leaders Juve in their quest to win a third consecutive Scudetto, as they hold an 11-point lead over second-placed Roma.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina are the only side to have beaten Antonio Conte's men in the Italian top flight this season when they won 4-2 at Artemio Franchi back in October, so Juve will have a score to settle.
This weekend's clash at Juventus Stadium also gives the two sides an opportunity to size each other up ahead of their UEFA Europa League round-of-16 first-leg clash at the same ground next Thursday.
Juve have had to settle for a place in Europe's secondary club competition after being dumped out of the UEFA Champions League and they will travel to Florence for the second leg on March 20.
Conte's immediate attention is on stretching the Turin giants' unbeaten run to 19 Serie A matches and moving a step closer to retaining their title.
The former Italy midfielder is braced for a stern test against a Fiorentina side still licking their wounds after a 1-0 home defeat against Lazio last weekend.
He told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Fiorentina are a very strong side.
"They have a lot of ambition and they want to qualify for the Champions League next season.
"They are fourth in the standings and have already reached the Coppa Italia final.
"We will face them first in the league and then in the Europa League and we shall see how that goes."
Giorgio Chiellini is set to return following a three-week spell on the sidelines with a calf injury in a week that Conte expressed his surprise that the defender was called up to the Italy squad to face Spain.
Chiellini ultimately played no part in the 1-0 defeat against the world and European champions on Wednesday, but he could be back in the Juve side against Vincenzo Montella's charges.
Juve welcome back key midfielder Arturo Vidal after he sat out the 2-0 win at Milan last weekend due to a one-match ban, but playmaker Andre Pirlo is unavailable as he serves a one-match suspension as a result of his caution at San Siro.
The champions have reeled off five consecutive wins in all competitions and not conceded a goal in their last four games.
Fiorentina are without a win in three games in all competitions and will be without midfielder Borja Valero, who serves the second of a reduced three-match ban, while defender Nenad Tomovic is also suspended.
The defeat against Lazio leaves them seven points adrift of third-placed Napoli.
Inter will be striving to enhance their chances of qualifying for Europe with a victory over Torino at San Siro on Sunday.
Walter Mazzarri's side held second-placed Roma to a goalless draw in Serie A last Sunday to stretch their unbeaten run to four matches.
Inter occupy fifth place and have not been beaten at home in their last 10 matches in all competitions.
They also this week announced that Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic will move to San Siro at the end of the season when his contract with the Premier League champions expires and president Erick Thohir vowed that more new faces will arrive.
Hernanes was also recruited by Inter in January and the Brazil midfielder is thriving on a new challenge following his move from Lazio as he prepares to return to the starting line-up after recovering from a knock.
"When I arrived here a fan had told me that I was wanted at Inter as if I had already been here for a long time," he told Inter Channel.
"I've immediately felt great affection from the Nerazzurri fans. I knew that sooner or later I'd be able to win over the fans, but I thought that they'd want to see me play on the pitch first.
"I'm doing very well in Milan. I have found a house already and there's an optimal climate. Therefore, I'm all set to have a great ending to the season.
"I'm really looking forward to these last 12 games. I, along with the rest of the team, really want to do well because we truly have the chance to."
Inter duo Walter Samuel and Juan Jesus will not be involved due to suspension, but Javier Zanetti returned to training in midweek and could return.
If the Serie A clash between the two sides in Turin in October is anything to go by, then there should be plenty of entertainment at San Siro.
Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was shown a red card after only five minutes, but the visitors looked set to secure all three points until Nicola Bellomo's late goal secured a whirlwind 3-3 draw.
Torino have slipped to ninth in the table after back-to-back defeats against Juventus and Sampdoria, leaving them sixth points behind Inter in the race for European football.
And they will have to do without skipper Kamil Glik at San Siro due to suspension.
Serie A Preview: Roma renew Napoli rivalry, Fiorentina look for league double over Juventus
7 March 2014
Napoli's hopes of overhauling Roma into second in Serie A could well rest on the sides' clash at Stadio San Paolo on Sunday.
Rafael Benitez's side are six points off the men from the capital, who also hold a game in hand over their hosts this weekend.
The pair have met three times already three times this season, the hosts triumphing on each occasion and Napoli can take confidence from a 3-0 success over Napoli in the Coppa Italia in February.
That win helped Napoli on their route to the Coppa final, where they will face Fiorentina at the end of the season.
There may be focus on the stands as well as the pitch for the game with Roma having been punished for discriminatory chants towards Naples this term.
Juventus host Fiorentina on Sunday in a dress rehearsal for the sides' UEFA Europa League last-16 tie, the first leg of which is at Juventus Stadium on Thursday.
However, the visitors will have their eye on a rare chance to do the double over the league leaders, having triumphed 4-2 in the reverse fixture.
Vincenzo Montella is the only head coach to have taken all three points from Juventus in Serie A this season, but Fiorentina have not beaten the Turin club away from home in the league since 2008.
Two consecutive defeats have seen Torino slip out of the race for fifth place - the final UEFA Europa League qualification spot - but they can claw their way back in when they travel to fifth-placed Inter.
Clarence Seedorf gets the chance to exact revenge on Udinese's Francesco Guidolin at the Stadio Friuli.
The Dutch coach suffered his first loss in charge of Milan to Guidolin in the Coppa Italia and will be keen to take all three points when they travel to Udine on Saturday.
Two sides pushing for a top-five finish, Parma and Verona, meet at the Ennio Tardini on Sunday, while at the bottom, Eusebio Di Francesco prepares for his first game back in charge of Sassuolo against fellow strugglers Bologna.
Sassuolo have not won since Di Francesco left the club in January and they will hope his return following the sacking of Alberto Malesani can help them to inflict a third defeat in four matches on their opponents.
Only goal difference is keeping Chievo out of the bottom three at the expense of Livorno, and both sides face Genoese opposition this weekend.
Chievo will host mid-table Genoa, while Livorno travel to Sampdoria, who ended a run of two-consecutive defeats with a 2-0 win over Torino last weekend.
Elsewhere, Cagliari travel to Siciliy to face second-bottom Catania and Lazio entertain Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico.
De Rossi misses Roma trip to Napoli after appeal rejected
By Terry Daley
ROME Fri Mar 7, 2014 5:53pm GMT
AS Roma's Daniele De Rossi reacts after receiving a red card during their Italian Serie A soccer match against Juventus at the Juventus stadium in Turin January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
(Reuters) - Daniele De Rossi is out of the game at Napoli on Sunday after AS Roma's appeal against his three-match ban for punching Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi last week was rejected by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
Defender Juan Jesus will also miss Inter's home match with Torino on Sunday after having his three-match suspension for striking Roma's Alessio Romangonli in the same match upheld.
"The emergency appeals presented in relation to the three days of disqualification imposed on Daniele De Rossi and Juan Jesus have been rejected," the FIGC said in a statement on Friday.
Italy midfielder De Rossi was seen by television cameras hitting Icardi during a tussle at a free kick in the first half of Saturday's goalless draw at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Jesus was also caught out by TV footage.
Thirty-year-old De Rossi was dropped for Italy's 1-0 friendly defeat by Spain in Madrid on Wednesday because his actions last weekend violated the code of conduct set out by coach Cesare Prandelli.
He will be missed by Roma in Naples where his team were hammered 3-0 in the second leg of the Italian Cup semi-final last month.
De Rossi's side are second in Serie A, six points ahead of third-placed Napoli and 11 adrift of champions Juventus who host bitter rivals Fiorentina on Sunday.
Roma must beat Rafael Benitez's Napoli and hope Juve drop points at home for the first time this season if they are to retain a realistic chance of winning their first league title since 2001.
AC Milan's Mario Balotelli leaves the pitch with an injured shoulder during their Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the San Siro stadium in Milan February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
(Reuters) - Mario Balotelli returns to the AC Milan squad for their Serie A clash at Udinese on Saturday after recovering from a shoulder injury.
"Balotelli is fine. He is still feeling a bit of pain but he needs to learn to live with it," Milan coach Clarence Seedorf told a news conference on Friday.
The Italy striker, who has scored 10 league goals in 18 appearances this season, has missed Milan's last two matches after leaving the field 12 minutes from the end of the 1-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid in Milan last month.
The attacker has been at the centre of more controversy after he published a picture of himself on Twitter playing table tennis, sparking claims in Italian media that he was not taking the injury seriously.
"I'm not here to tell people how to use their own means of communication," Seedorf said.
"What makes for news in Italy is a worry to me. This is such a trivial thing. Who cares if he played table tennis? He had a six-hour treatment."
Seedorf's side are 10th in Serie A on 35 points, six behind local rivals Inter Milan, who lie in fifth place and the last Europa League spot.
They travel to the Spanish capital on Tuesday for the second leg of the last-16 tie with Atletico.
Serie A Wrap: Di Natale condemns Milan to defeat, Catania held by Cagliari
8 March 2014
Milan's hopes of a place in the top five of Serie A suffered another blow as an Antonio Di Natale strike gave Udinese a 1-0 win on Saturday.
The hosts had the better of the play at the Stadio Friuli and were rewarded as they secured a first win in a month and second against Milan since Clarence Seedorf took over at San Siro in January.
Milan striker Mario Balotelli made his return to the side, coming off the bench in the 63rd minute after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury.
But it was veteran forward Di Natale, who appears poised to conclude his playing career at the end of the campaign, that proved to be the difference-maker.
Di Natale found the net four minutes after Balotelli's introduction, finishing off a sweeping counter-attack involving Roberto Pereyra and Bruno Fernandes.
And from that point there was no way back for Seedorf's side as Milan slipped to a second successive Serie A loss.
Defeat leaves Milan mired in 11th position, six points adrift of city rivals Inter in fifth, but their troubles pale in comparison to that of Catania, who missed a chance to move out of the bottom three with a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Cagliari.
Cagliari took the lead eight minutes into the second half when Uruguayan midfielder Matias Vecino found the net with a close-range finish.
However, the visitors' lead lasted less than 10 minutes, striker Gonzalo Bergessio heading home from Francesco Lodi's free-kick.
Catania's prospects of victory were boosted when they were handed a numerical advantage as Cagliari defender Danilo Avelar received a second yellow card for a foul on Sebastian Leto.
That dismissal prompted an onslaught from the hosts but the Sardinians held on to claim a point despite Cristiano Biraghi and Alexis Rolin hitting the woodwork for Catania.
Serie A Wrap: Callejon sinks Roma, Juventus equal record
9 March 2014
Jose Callejon's header earned Napoli a 1-0 win over Roma as Rafael Benitez's side closed the gap on the visitors to three points.
Rudi Garcia's men have seen their title hopes all but disappear in the wake of defending champions Juventus' incredible form, and now their grip on second spot is loosening.
Callejon leapt highest to connect with Faouzi Ghoulam's superb cross from the left wing as he headed home from close range to seal the points just nine minutes from time.
The Spaniard's 10th Serie A goal of the season, and first this year, boosted Napoli's hopes of securing an automatic UEFA Champions League qualification spot.
Roma suffered a big blow in the first half as midfielder Kevin Strootman limped off with an injury and things looked to have got worse for them when Alessandro Florenzi's free-kick was headed in by Mehdi Benatia, but he was flagged offside.
The game was full of missed chances and it came down to Callejon to settle matters late on, inflicting Roma's second league defeat of the season.
Juventus equalled the Serie A record of 14 consecutive home wins with a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina at Juventus Stadium. Antonio Conte's side are now level with Torino's record from the 1975-76 campaign and have opened a 14-point lead over Roma.
Kwadwo Asamoah scored the only goal as Juventus drew first blood in their triple-header with Vincenzo Montella's side.
The sides are set to meet three times in less than a fortnight, with Sunday's Serie A clash to be followed by two encounters in the UEFA Europa League last 16.
Lazio suffered a 1-0 loss to Atalanta at a sparsely populated Stadio Olimpico as their fans staged a stay-away protest against club president Claudio Lotito. Despite the result Lazio remain in eighth after Torino were beaten 1-0 by Inter, with Rodrigo Palacio heading the winner.
Sampdoria scored four second-half goals to recover from 2-0 down to seal a 4-2 home victory over Livorno. The away side remain in the final relegation place and two points adrift of safety.
Alberto Paloschi helped Chievo seal a 2-1 victory over Genoa after converting two penalties for Eugenio Corini's side, eclipsing Alberto Gilardino's late leveller.
Elsewhere, Parma climbed to sixth with a 2-0 win over Verona, while rock-bottom Sassuolo ended their seven-game losing streak with a 0-0 draw at Bologna.
Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina says he is open to the possibility of moving to America towards the end of his career.
The Spaniard is currently in Naples on a season-long loan from Liverpool, and has conceded he will unlikely return to Anfield.
Napoli are enjoying a strong season under Rafael Benitez, currently lying third in the Serie A table, with a place in the Coppa Italia final assured, while Thursday sees them take on Porto in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League.
However, with a permanent switch to the San Paolo yet to be agreed, Reina is not ruling out any options for his future.
"I would like to try to do something different in the future," he told Diario de la Roja. "Maybe America or something like that.
"My idea is to have three or four good years somewhere and then after that go somewhere else for a couple more years.
"I think I have five or six years left.
"Nothing has been confirmed yet but I’ve got the feeling that Napoli are happy with me and I think they will talk to Liverpool to see what the situation is.
"It would be hard for me to go back to England.
"Liverpool have signed a 26-year-old goalkeeper (Simon Mignolet), they have got rid of me for economic reasons apparently and it is difficult to see that situation changing."
For the 31-year-old, life in southern Italy seems to be a better fit than life on Merseyside.
"I have returned to having fun, with a coach with whom I love to work," he said.
"Every day is much easier than it was before. I am happy, I am very well adapted and so is my family.
"The affection of the people is awesome. And then there’s a life which is quite different to Liverpool. In Liverpool we did much at home.
"Here we go out a lot more because the weather allows that. There are more opportunities to do things.
"Napoli fits in with my character. My way of being, of living, of thinking, I identify with the way the Neapolitans are."
Thousands of Lazio fans stayed away from Sunday's home game with Atalanta in protest at club president Claudio Lotito.
Anger has grown amid supporters in the direction of Lotito and matters came to a head on Sunday when Lazio fell to a 1-0 defeat in front of a virtually empty stadium, with one banner reading: "It's him or us."
Lotito is often accused of a lack of ambition by Lazio supporters, though the club owner has countered those claims by pointing to a reduction in their debt.
Star player Hernanes was sold to inter in the January transfer window, with fan protests in recent weeks preceding Sunday's no-show.
Head coach Edy Reja spoke out after the game to say that the situation made it all the harder for his side to perform well, with Lazio currently in eighth spot, six points adrift of a UEFA Europa League qualification berth.
"It's a real shame to see the Olimpico deserted," he told Rai Sport.
"We were in the running to reach important places in the league, but it's difficult to play in these conditions.
"We need to get closer to each other and let go of the past. Solutions can be found and this situation is damaging the club.
"It's a real shame, because we have fought back after a difficult start to the campaign. This was a decisive step for us, but it went badly."
Inter president Erick Thohir has hinted that captain Javier Zanetti could call time on his playing career at the end of the season.
The 40-year-old has made just seven appearances this term after rupturing his Achilles tendon last April and had been linked with a move to Chelsea as player-coach.
Zanetti denied the suggestion he would leave San Siro and explained on Sunday he felt he would "continue to be a part of Inter" with his contract due to expire at the end of season.
President Thohir has echoed those sentiments, suggesting Zanetti could be offered an off-field role under Walter Mazzarri at the end of the current campaign.
"Zanetti is a great player. I want him to focus on the season, and he agrees," said Thohir.
"There are only three months left, then after this season he can join the family."
Zanetti made his Inter debut in 1995 and has won five Scudettos and four Coppa Italia titles during his time with the club.
The former Real Madrid player says he is happy that he made the switch to the Partenopei and believes a Coppa Italia win this year could propel them to win the Scudetto next year
Napoli forward Jose Callejon believes success in the Coppa Italia could begin an era of trophies at the San Paolo club.
Callejon swapped Real Madrid for the Serie A outfit in August and has made a bright start to life in Italy, scoring 15 goals in 38 appearances this season.
The Spaniard netted the only goal in the 1-0 win over Roma on Sunday, a result that takes the third-placed Napoli to within three points of Rudi Garcia's side.
And while runaway leaders Juventus are 17 points ahead of Napoli, Callejon feels that they are on the verge of something special.
Rafael Benitez's side play Fiorentina in May's Coppa Italia final and victory could set up a springboard for a title push in the league next year, according to Callejon.
"This is a team that can achieve something next year," he told N+.
"We need another year, for other good players to arrive, and the goal within two years [is] to win something important, to win the Scudetto.
"This would be important for us.
"For us, the Coppa Italia is very important and we want to win that title, hoping that it is the first of many others."
The 27-year-old added that he was delighted in his decision to join Napoli, saying: "I left Real Madrid because I wanted to play more.
"And when Benitez called, he convinced me right away.
"I am very happy with my experience at Napoli and I would make the same choice again."
The Italian giants unveiled the World Cup winner as the new Primavera head coach with predecessor Andrea Zanchetta moving to another role
Juventus have confirmed that former full-back Fabio Grosso will take up the position of head coach of the club's youth team.
The 36-year-old ended his playing career with the Turin club, with whom he enjoyed a three-year spell between 2009 and 2012, winning the Serie A title with Juve in 2011-12.
Andrea Zanchetta had previously been in the role of youth-team head coach, with Grosso - part of the Italy side that lifted the 2006 World Cup - serving as his assistant, but he now takes up a different position within the club's backroom staff.
A statement of Juve's website read: "Fabio Grosso has today been confirmed as the new Primavera head coach.
"The World Cup winner replaces Andrea Zanchetta, who will take up another technical role within the club's youth academy."
Grosso also had spells at Inter, Lyon and Palermo during his playing days.
The club’s sporting director says there is no chance that the Nerazzurri coach will leave regardless of where they finish in the Scudetto race in 2013-14
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has backed Walter Mazzarri to remain as head coach despite the Serie A team’s middling season.
Ausilio believes that, despite their current fifth place position, the team has made a lot of progress under the former Napoli boss, who took over in 2013.
"He works 24 hours a day,” Ausilio told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “He follows all the movements of the team.
“Mazzarri is part of the foundation. You can already see a growing team, a different game, a solid defence. Despite our ranking, it looks like that. Mazzarri will remain, regardless of where we finish."
The sporting director is confident that the club can hold on to their main assets, while he has also hinted that new arrivals could be on their way to San Siro but stressing the Nerazzurri will not splash out more than they can afford.
“Mazzarri has worked wonders with Rolando, we want to keep him. Ranocchia we will talk with at the end of the season but I wouldn't rule out a renewal.
“With Guarin and Alvarez we are in a good place. The heroes from the treble? We will speak with everyone at the end of the season, just as we did with Samuel last year when he renewed in five minutes flat.
“But who knows what will happen. Milito could give experience and quality even if not as a starter.
“There is just one prerequisite: that the parameters do not exceed the current ones. As stated by Thohir, the total salary cannot exceed €70-80m."
AC Milan want to be in Europa league, says Galliani
AC Milan's chief executive has scuppered suggestions that the seven-times European champions do not want to take part in next year's Europa League.
March 13, 2014
A general view of San Siro stadium (Reuters)
"Qualifying for the Europa League will be our target from now until the end of the season," Adriano Galliani told Milan's television channel.
"We must beat Parma on Sunday which will put us five points behind them. Milan have always been in Europe in the last few years and we want that to continue.
"It's not true that Milan don't want to take part in the Europa League."
Milan were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday after losing 4-1 to Atletico Madrid and have only a mathematical chance of qualifying for the flagship competition next season.
They are 10th in Serie A with 35 points, nine behind Inter Milan who are in fifth which is the final Europa League spot.
Lazio president: We'll bring in high-level players
Lazio president Claudio Lotito has revealed that he will open up his cheque book in the summer, despite an uneasy relationship with the fans.
12 March 2014 11:59
Claudio Lotito (Reuters)
The Biancocelesti supporters voted with their feet during the game against Atalanta at the weekend, with the majority of fans failing to turn up for the match in protest against the owner.
However, he has admitted that he will try and win them over at the end of the season by bringing in a host of new names.
“The fans not entering the stadium has damaged Lazio,” he told reporters.
“The market? I have a shopping list at the moment but I am not allowed to talk about it.
“With regards to that, we’ll try and add to multiple positions. We’ll bring in high-level players – ones that the fans will know.
“I won’t just buy to buy though. We have a project here.”March 13, 2014
Roma's Morgan De Sanctis has sympathised with team-mate Kevin Strootman after a serious injury left his FIFA World Cup dreams in jeopardy.
The 24-year-old was forced from the field just 13 minutes into Sunday's 1-0 Serie A setback at Napoli after initially attempting to play through the pain barrier, but it was later revealed he had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee.
The news comes as a particular blow to the Netherlands international as he is now likely to miss the World Cup in Brazil later this year.
Goalkeeper De Sanctis expressed disappointment that Strootman will not appear before a world audience at the showpiece event, but believes a lack of competitive action will give him the best chance to recover.
"There is sorrow, particularly for Kevin because he was at an important stage in his career and in the season for Roma. He also had the objective of having a great World Cup," he is quoted as saying at a function for Lotto.
"This was the greatest blow for him, but if one has to get injured in this way and stay out for so long, then there's no better time, considering that the season ends in 60 days and there will be three months without competitive games and he will have plenty of time in which to recover well."
De Sanctis was also asked whether Roma's recent struggles in front of goal are directly linked to the absence of captain Francesco Totti, who has missed the last four matches in all competitions with a gluteal injury.
Roma have drawn blanks in four of their past six matches in all competitions, and De Sanctis believes Totti's eventual return will boost their goal return for the remainder of the campaign.
He added: "Francesco will return and that is a positive. In attack he is capable of doing an important job and scoring, he can take responsibility with more ease and I am confident that between now and May 18 everything will run smoothly."
Roma currently occupy second place in Serie A, 14 points adrift of leaders Juventus and three ahead of Napoli in third, with Rudi Garcia's men possessing a game in hand over both sides.
