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Paulo Dybala was linked with a move to Napoli at the weekend, but the Naples outfit denied that they are in talks with the Palermo striker.
Napoli have dismissed reports that sporting director Riccardo Bigon has held talks with Palermo forward Paulo Dybala's agent as "completely devoid of any foundation".
Palermo striker Dybala has been likened to Manchester City and Argentina frontman Sergio Aguero, so it is no surprise that a host of clubs have been linked with the 21-year-old.
Maurizio Zamparini, the Palermo president, last week revealed that he is "almost certain" that Dybala will be sold at the end of the season after the rising star rejected a new contract with the Serie A club.
Zamparini claimed Juventus are ready to negotiate a deal for Palermo's prized asset and stated that Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain were among the other clubs interested in signing Dybala.
Reports over the weekend claimed that Bigon had held negotiations with Dybala's representative, but Napoli released a statement on Monday denying that was the case.
A statement on the club's official website: "Regarding what came out in the press about a meeting in Palermo a few days ago between the Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon and the agents of the footballer Dybala, SSC Napoli wishes to inform you all that this 'news piece' is completely devoid of any foundation."
Dybala has scored 11 goals in Serie A this season and played his part in Palermo's 3-1 win over Napoli on Saturday.
Having made his Roma debut in Sunday's disappointing 0-0 draw with Parma, Seydou Doumbia is eager to turn fortunes around at the club.
Following Roma's goalless draw with Serie A's bottom side Parma on Sunday, recent signing Seydou Doumbia is confident he can help arrest the club's stuttering form.
Rudi Garcia's men were held at the Stadio Olimpico by a troubled Parma side - who sit six points adrift at the foot of the league while also contending with financial difficulties - leading to jeers from some supporters.
With leaders Juventus only able to draw with Cesena later on Sunday - Roma remain seven points off top spot but, following his debut, Doumbia feels he will continue to improve following his Africa Cup of Nations exertions with the Ivory Coast.
"My first few days here have gone really well," the striker told reporters on Monday.
"We needed to beat Parma to make up points on the leaders. All I can say is that I'll do everything in my power to turn those boos into applause.
"It's true that I'd only trained twice before the game but I played in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
"I'm a centre-forward, I like to be in the box. I've scored lots of goals in the past. I need confidence to be able to perform at my best and I'm sure I'll get that here.
"I haven't played much recently but I'm going to work as hard as I possibly can to reach peak form and finish this season on a high."
Doumbia also spoke of the impact club and country team-mate Gervinho had on his move, adding: "I was at the Africa Cup of Nations when I heard of Roma's interest in me.
"Gervinho has been talking to me about Roma for the last two years on international get-togethers. That was another reason for me to want to come here.
"I don't think Roma are that different to the side I played against in September when I was at CSKA [in the UEFA Champions League].
"All teams go through tough spells over the course of a season but even if we didn't play well against Parma, we're still second in the league."
The striker scored his sixth of the season on Sunday but chose not to celebrate as his side slumped to a disappointing draw
Juventus striker Alvaro Morata says he prefers winning games to scoring goals in the wake of the Serie A champions' 2-2 draw with Cesena.
The 22-year-old scored his sixth league goal of the season on Sunday but felt the disappointing nature of the result diluted the importance of his strike.
"It was great to get on the scoresheet," Morata told reporters.
"But when we don’t get all three points, the goal takes on a lesser significance. I always want to win."
The former Real Madrid man then offered Cesena praise for their efforts and noted the difficulty of playing on an alternative surface.
"It was a tough game that we could have triumphed in but ultimately we drew and earned ourselves an important point.
"Cesena are a good outfit, a tough nut to crack on their own patch and it’s difficult to come away from here with a win. They know that playing on an artificial surface makes it challenging for any opponent that comes here. They played their football and it paid dividends for them.
"We can’t dwell too much on tonight’s result and need to shift our focus to the next game."
Juventus remain top of the Serie A table and hold a commanding seven-point lead over second-placed Roma.
Bailiffs seize Parma property as crisis-hit club struggles to pay debts
By Mark Doyle
Feb 17, 2015 13:55:03
Serie A's bottom side are over €100 million in the red and facing a five-point penalty over unpaid wages
Baliffs have begun seizing property at Parma's home ground after the cast-strapped Italian club missed a deadline to settle their outstanding debts.
The Gialloblu are over €100 million in arrears and were docked a Serie A point earlier this season for failing to pay players and staff.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced last week that the club were facing administration and a five-point sanction for failing to pay wages for July, August and September of 2014.
Parma were told to clear their outstanding debts by Monday, February 16, but that deadline was allegedly missed and baliffs turned up at the club's headquarters the following morning, seizing three cars and a van.
However, Gialloblu president Giampietro Manenti, whose Mapi Group bought the Stadio Ennio Tardini outfit for €1 last week, says that there is no cause for concern, insisiting that the money is on its way to the creditors.
"We are working on it and I am confident," he told reporters on Tuesday. "The time frame must be respected but the payments were made yesterday for tomorrow."
Parma's general director, Pietro Leonardi, has also claimed that the club's beleaguered fans have nothing to worry about.
"We remain confident. Last night we saw the bank balance and we hope that the situation will be resolved."
Parma currently sit rock bottom of Serie A, on 10 points, 13 away from safety. However, despite the uncertainty surrounding the club's future, Roberto Donadoni's side managed to hold second-placed Roma to a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.
Silvio Berlusconi's holding company, Fininvest, have stated they are not interested in selling the club, despite reports of a potential €1 billion offer
AC Milan have denied reports that Silvio Berlusconi's holding company, Fininvest, has any interest in selling a majority stake in the Serie A club.
Reports in Thailand earlier in the day stated that Thai investor Bee Taechaubol had lodged an offer of €1 billion for a controlling stake of the seven-time European champions.
Former Italian prime minister Berlusconi insisted only last month that he is not looking to sell Milan and Fininvest released a statement, via the club website, to reiterate that stance on Monday.
"In response to press reports, Fininvest reiterates that it is not interested in selling majority shares in AC Milan," the statement said.
"Fininvest can only reiterate the statement left on Saturday the 14th of February: various entities have shown interest in a partnership with Fininvest relating to Milan, but categorically deny that there have been negotiations, let alone pre-contract agreements or 'decisive meetings' on the agenda."
Milan are enduring another frustrating season and Sunday's 1-1 draw at home to Empoli leaves them 11th in Serie A.
Meanwhile, the Rossoneri also revealed that defender Alex had surgery on a broken nose on Monday and fellow defender Gabriel Paletta has sustained a thigh injury that the club will assess again at the start of next week.
Thai investor Taechaubol makes €1 billion Milan bid
Stefan Coerts
Feb 17, 2015 11:09:17
Fininvest denied on Monday that they had received any offers for the Serie A side, but the Thai investor has revealed he did table an offer
Thai investor Bee Taechaubol has tabled an offer worth close to €1 billion to acquire a majority stake in AC Milan.
Club president Silvio Berlusconi's holding company, Fininvest, stated on Monday they had held no talks with any potential investors and categorically denied they are ready to sell the club.
But, Taechaubol has claimed he made an official offer and even went on to predict that the deal could be completed as early as March.
"The reports are all true. I have presented an offer to acquire a majority stake in AC Milan," the Thai investor told Bangkok Post.
"My offer has an overall value of just under €1bn.
"The deal could come into effect by October. I'm now awaiting a response from Berlusconi. I am ready to close the deal by the end of the month."
Taechaubol then went on to stress that he has already outlined his plans to the Milan president and is confident of conquering the Asian market.
"I have presented a clear development project with a detailed plan for each major city in Asia. I am convinced the brand 'AC Milan' has a tremendous value in a market where we want to strengthen our position," he added to La Repubblica.
"My proposal is serious and solid. Talks with Berlusconi were very serene and quite pleasant."
Taechaubol would become the second Asian businessman to take charge of one of Serie A's top clubs after Indonesian investor Erick Thohir previously acquired Inter.
Sacchi a disgrace to all Italians for 'too many blacks' comment - Raiola
Stefan Coerts
Feb 17, 2015 10:56:55
The agent is disgusted with comments made by the former Italy coach and says it portrays the country's football in a bad light
Mino Raiola has hit out at Arrigo Sacchi in the wake of the legendary coach's controversial comments regarding black players.
The former AC Milan and Italy boss claimed on Monday that Italian football has lost its identity because there are too many black players in the various youth teams.
Sacchi has since insisted that he is not racist, but Raiola - who represents players such as Paul Pogba, Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among others - is not impressed with the 68-year-old's remarks.
"There are too many ignorant people in power in Italian football. That's why we're in the sh*t," the agent tweeted.
"I feel ashamed to be Italian when I hear Sacchi's comments. What a figure he makes...
"There are no foreigners in this world, only people. Sport should be open to all those who want play and are the best at it."
Raiola then went on to voice his support to players of all ethnicities and stressed everybody should be treated the same.
"Come on everybody, come on all coloured players, black, white, yellow, red and all other colours.
"One earth, one mankind."
Kevin-Prince Boateng and Mario Balotelli were subjected to racist chants during their time in Serie A, while FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio also made the headlines when he was punished for racist comments in 2014.
Zamparini: Lazio president Lotito is like Mussolini
By Mark Doyle
Feb 17, 2015 18:16:15
The supremo of the Rome club was last week recorded ridiculing the heads of Serie A and Serie B, as well as talking up his influence on Italy's top divisions
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini says Lazio counterpart Claudio Lotito suffers from the same "delusion of omnipotence" as Italy's former fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
Lotito made headlines last week after Pino Iodice, the sporting director of third-tier side Ischia, released a recording of a conversation with the Lazio president in which the 57-year-old Roman slated the heads of Serie A and Serie B, claiming that he exerts more power and influence than both.
Lotito was also recorded saying that he hoped that Serie B duo Carpi and Frosinone do not secure promotion to Italy's top flight because they would not represent attractive additions in the eyes of the TV companies that cover the game.
Zamparini has now weighed into the controversy, telling Radio 24: “It was shameful to record a phone call, like the Soviet Union.
“However, he was talking rubbish. Carpi have the right to play in Serie A.
“The problem is that the Lazio president suffers from the delusion of omnipotence, like Mussolini or [former Socialist Party leader Bettino] Craxi."
Zamparini also alleged that Lotito is currently vying for control of Serie A with Scudetto holders Juventus.
“Unfortunately there’s a power struggle going on between Juve and Lotito," he added.
“[Juve sporting director] Marotta? He says certain things that will suit Juve as he is influenced by his bosses.
“As for Lotito, I repeat, he was talking rubbish, he thinks he’s omnipotent.
“Maybe he doesn’t know that power bothers people, who will then want to fight you, he wants to get involved in politics too.”
The Spaniard has revealed that he has twice before been approached by Super Lig sides Besiktas and Galatasaray
Rafael Benitez has once again refused to commit himself to Napoli beyond the end of the season, revealing that he is open to continuing his coaching career in Turkey.
The Spaniard, who will be out of contract this summer, is currently preparing his side for the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie with Trabzonspor at the Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium.
As a result, Benitez was asked on the eve of the game if he would consider taking a job in Turkey if he decides against extending his stay at the San Paolo.
"I'm happy [at Napoli] right now but we'll see what happens in the future," he told Hurriyet. "I always say: never say never.
"I was contacted by Besiktas before going to Liverpool [in 2004]. They offered me a significant salary but only a one-year contract, whereas Liverpool offered five.
"There was also Galatasaray in 2013, before I signed with Napoli, and also in that instance, the offer was very favourable."
Turning his attention to the task at hand, Benitez admitted that he is anticipating at tough test in Turkey.
"Trabzonspor are a tough squad," he added. "They play great football and we know that this will be a difficult game for us."
Ezequiel Lavezzi revealed that a close-season switch from Paris Saint-Germain to former club Napoli could be a possibility.
Paris Saint-Germain attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi has opened the door to a potential return to Serie A side Napoli.
After an impressive spell at San Lorenzo in his native Argentina, Lavezzi enjoyed a fine five-year spell in Naples from 2007 until 2012 before joining PSG for a reported fee of €26 million.
Lavezzi has won two Ligue 1 titles, two Super Cups and the Coupe de la Ligue since joining the French club, though as an individual he has often struggled for consistency.
And, following PSG's 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw with Chelsea on Tuesday, the Argentinian acknowledged that a return to Napoli appeals and refused to rule out a close-season transfer.
"Me paired with [Gonzalo] Higuain? Why not? I do miss Italy," he told Sky Italia.
"If I went back [to Italy] Napoli would be my first choice. We will have to see if I want to.
"I'm at PSG now, [but] at the end of the season we shall see what happens."
Serie A Preview: Sampdoria host city rivals Genoa, Juve face Atalanta
18 February 2015
Sampdoria host city rivals Genoa in Serie A this weekend with both sides hungry for victory to boost their European ambitions.
Rewards beyond local pride are on the line at the Luigi Ferraris this weekend as Sampdoria look to record their first Serie A double over city rivals Genoa since 2002-03.
Both sides have enjoyed an upturn in form generally this season and are well in the hunt for a European spot after recent seasons which have seen them mired in either mid-table obscurity or relegation dogfights.
Genoa currently sit ahead of Samp on goal difference and come into the derby on the back of successive league wins, while Sinisa Mihajlovic's side have not won in four matches.
However, Sinisa Mihajlovic's side did win their first meeting - when they were the designated away team - this season 1-0, and the Serb will hope having the crowd in their favour can help turn their form around.
Victory would ensure either side keep the pressure on Lazio and Fiorentina, currently occupying the UEFA Europa League qualification places.
Fiorentina and Lazio respectively host two other sides in the top-five hunt – Torino and Palermo - in what looks to be an intriguing weekend for the top half.
Leaders Juventus enjoy a seven-point buffer at the top and will be expected to maintain that when they host Atalanta, perched precariously above the bottom three and on a run of nine-straight defeats to the Turin giants.
Second-placed Roma will hope their stuttering form does not continue at 16th-placed Verona, having drawn five of their seven league games in 2015.
Napoli have closed the gap to Roma in recent weeks but a 3-1 loss at Palermo dented their progress last weekend - Sassuolo are Monday's visitors to the San Paolo as Rafa Benitez's men look to get back on track.
Fallen giants Milan and Inter continue to try and turn around their miserable campaigns with clashes against sides in the bottom three, Cagliari and Cesena.
Elsewhere, beleaguered Parma will be glad to get back to action on the pitch against Udinese after another turbulent week saw reports of debt collectors moving in on the club to recover assets, while Chievo travel to Empoli.
Juventus v Atalanta: Marchisio focused on Serie A not Europe
18 February 2015
Claudio Marchisio says Juventus are fully focused on beating Atalanta in Serie A on Friday, and not next week's UEFA Champions League tie.
Juventus will not allow the distraction of the UEFA Champions League affect their focus on matters at hand in Serie A when they face Atalanta on Friday, says Claudio Marchisio.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side have yet to taste defeat in 2015 and go into the clash unbeaten in their last 14 league games – giving them a seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Victory on Friday would increase that to 10 points and apply further pressure on Roma and Napoli, who lead the chase to catch them with 15 games remaining.
The return of European competition for Juve next week means they must now exert themselves on three fronts – including the Coppa Italia – but Marchisio is adamant maintaining their league form is the top priority.
"We are fully focused on Serie A," Marchisio told Sky Sport Italia, with Juve facing Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
"We play Dortmund next week but we are not going to take our eye off the ball in terms of Serie A.
"We have a big game against Atalanta at the weekend and that is what we are focusing on."
Matches between the two sides have been fairly one-sided with Juve, as many would expect, dominating the head-to-head record.
The last nine meetings have all ended in victory for the champions, while Atalanta have not recorded a league win over Juve since February 2001.
Ending that 14-year wait will be tough for the strugglers given they are having a tough campaign in 2014-15.
After finishing in mid-table last season it was always going to be difficult for Stefano Colantuono's side to improve this term, and so it has proved with Atalanta firmly ensconced in the relegation battle.
They sit three points outside the danger zone, but, should they lose at Juve and Cagliari beat Inter on Monday, Atalanta would drop into the bottom three.
Back-to-back defeats is not the ideal way to prepare for a clash with the defending champions, though, and with three losses in their last four matches Atalanta will do well to get anything out of the game.
Goals have been hard to come by for the visitors this season, with only Parma and Chievo scoring fewer, and injuries to key players have provided further hindrance.
Top scorer Maxi Moralez suffered a calf problem against Inter last week and is a major doubt, while Nicolo Cherubin (calf) and the suspended Yohan Benalouane will definitely miss out
Carlos Carmona and Mauricio Pinilla are also banned, but Juve loanee Richmond Boakye is set to feature against his parent club.
Fiorentina full-back Micah Richards feels he cannot return to parent club Manchester City as a player.
On-loan Fiorentina full-back Micah Richards still loves parent club Manchester City, and believes he would be captain of the Premier League champions if not for the takeover.
Richards, 26, returns to England on Thursday when his Serie A side face Tottenham in their UEFA Europa League last-32 first leg.
The defender is on a season-long loan at Fiorentina, having lost his place at right-back at City.
Richards believes it is near impossible for him to return to City as a player, but left the door open to one day being back in a different capacity.
"I do feel it is closed now at City for me unless Roberto Mancini got the job and wanted to bring me back in," he told The Telegraph.
"Wherever I go next, or stay at Fiorentina, I want to be first choice. It’s nothing to do with money. If it was for money, I'd have signed at City.
"I've been playing since I was 17 and until two years ago, I've always been first choice so not to be first choice is difficult to take.
"It was emotional because I was at City for a long time but some day I'll be back there in some capacity, maybe not coaching, I'd like to scout players.
"I do love City. City fans have always been great to me."
Former City manager Stuart Pearce had said he wanted to see Richards one day become the club's captain.
Richards believes that would now be the case if City were not taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008.
"If we didn't get the investment we did, I'd probably be captain now," he said.
"I probably wouldn't have left. I had a chance to go to Chelsea five years ago, and Manchester United. But I didn't feel it was right.
"I always enjoyed City. They gave me a chance at such a young age.
"I've been a bit unfortunate because whenever I picked up some form I got a niggling injury. With City, if you get an injury you can find yourself out of the team for months."
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has dismissed speculation that Ezequiel Lavezzi could make a return to the club.
Following Ezequiel Lavezzi's hints at a possible return to Napoli, the club's president Aurelio De Laurentiis has played down the rumours.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Lavezzi left for the French capital in 2012 but spoke this week about Napoli being his "first choice" were he to return to Italy, adding he would "see what happens" at the end of the season.
With Lavezzi widely reported to be considering a move away from the Parc des Princes, De Laurentiis was quick to cool the rumours.
Speaking to Radio Marte, the president questioned: "What would we want him back here for?
"He's doing pretty well for himself. He's got money and if he wants to come back to Naples, then let him buy a house and live here."
Capello sparks homophobia row defending Sacchi against racism claims
By Mark Doyle
Feb 18, 2015 18:24:00
The Russia boss has caused huge offence while rejecting the suggestion that Atletico Madrid are a "violent" team
Fabio Capello used an allegedly homophobic term during a radio interview in which he also defended Arrigo Sacchi against accusations of racism.
While speaking to Onda Cero, the Russia coach was asked about claims that Atletico Madrid's intensive, high-pressure brand of football is overly aggressive and that Diego Simeone's players are prone to ill-discipline.
The Italian coach replied: "I don't agree that they are violent. Football is not for mariquitas."
The Spanish word 'mariquitas' is the diminutive of 'marica', a homophobic slur which could be translated into English as 'fairies'.
During the interview, Capello also sought to explain the context behind Sacchi's controversial claim that there are "too many black players" in Italy's under-age teams.
"What he said is not racism," the former England boss stated. "We just need to have more Italian players in our youth academies, [players] with an Italian identity.
"We also have black players who are Italian but he was referring to the youth teams that have eight or nine foreign players in them."
Juventus 2 Atalanta 1: Pirlo perfection seals comeback for leaders
20 February 2015
Fernando Llorente's equaliser and an exquisite Andrea Pirlo goal gave Juventus a 2-1 comeback win over lowly Atalanta in Serie A.
An Andrea Pirlo stunner helped Serie A leaders Juventus return to winning ways with a 2-1 triumph over Atalanta.
Massimiliano Allegri made five changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Cesena last time out but his defending champions hinted that they might stumble again when Giulio Migliaccio headed the visitors to Juventus Stadium into a 25th-minute lead.
Fernando Llorente netted a scruffy equaliser six minutes before half-time before midfield maestro Pirlo took centre-stage on the stroke of the interval with a dazzling long-range effort.
Juventus pressed to make the game safe in the second period, Paul Pogba coming closest to extending their lead.
Clear chances dried up during the closing stages of a result that means second-place Roma will kick off 10 points in arrears when they travel to Verona on Sunday.
Atalanta have now lost three consecutive matches and remain precariously perched three points above the relegation zone.
Juventus penned their lowly opponents in their own territory during the opening stages and Llorente might have done better when he steered two Pirlo deliveries off target in the opening 10 minutes.
For all the home dominance, Gianluigi Buffon made the first telling save of the match, thwarting Daniele Baselli from close range.
From the resulting corner, Stefano Colantuono's team stunned the Turin faithful as Migliaccio darted towards the near post and glanced a header against the far upright that crossed the line before Buffon gathered.
Roberto Pereyra could have levelled immediately but an unnecessary touch on the end of Carlos Tevez's low cross allowed goalkeeper Marco Sportiello to smother his eventual shot.
In the 39th minute, Juventus full-back Martin Caceres stormed into the box and was denied by Sportiello. Again, a goalkeeper's good work would go unrewarded as Llorente smuggled home when the subsequent corner prompted an ungainly penalty box scramble.
If the equaliser was ugly, Juventus' second was simply beautiful - Pirlo launching a sumptuous 30-yard strike that swerved and dipped enough to leave Sportiello grasping at air.
The Atalanta keeper saved remarkably to keep out Pogba's close-range header in the 53rd minute.
A few moments after squaring up to Lionel Scaloni and earning a yellow card, Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio caught a boot in the face from Luca Cigarini but was not awarded a penalty.
Tevez saw an effort bravely blocked and Atalanta defender Andrea Masiello made an excellent last-ditch challenge to deny substitute Alvaro Morata in the 84th minute, while Migliaccio again timed his run superbly to hand Juventus a late scare as he headed wide.
Having returned to winning ways, Allegri's men now look towards games against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League and Roma in Serie A that could prove to be defining moments in their season.
Juventus' ability to grind out a result was key to their 2-1 victory over Atalanta according to match-winner Andrea Pirlo.
Andrea Pirlo praised Juventus' battling qualities after his decisive contribution to the 2-1 win over Atalanta in Serie A.
The 35-year-old midfielder produced a moment of magic on the stroke of half-time, netting with an irresistible 30-yard strike.
It was a rare example of inspiration amid a largely workmanlike Juventus display, with Fernando Llorente scrambling home from close range after Giulio Migliaccio gave the visitors a shock lead.
But after a disappointing 2-2 draw at Cesena last time out, Pirlo was unconcerned with the manner in which his team opened up a 10-point advantage ahead of Roma's Sunday trip to Verona.
“Our only target tonight was getting the three points and putting in a good display following last Sunday’s performance in Cesena,” the midfielder told reporters.
"It wasn’t an easy game. But even though we fell behind, we managed to dig deep and grind out a result.”
While Pirlo's effort will live long in the memory, Llorente's scruffy leveller is unlikely to make too many end-of-season compilations.
Nevertheless, the veteran hopes a first goal in two months can help to kick-start the Spain striker's campaign.
Pirlo added: "Fernando required that confidence boost and we hope the goals will now start flowing for him. He's someone we need."
Juventus' Paul Pogba would cost any potential suitors €100 million, says the player's agent Mino Raiola.
Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola claims it would cost €100 million to prise the midfielder him away from Juventus.
Pogba moved to the Serie A champions from Manchester United in 2012 and quickly established himself as a first-team regular.
In October, the France international extended his deal at the club until 2019, but that has not stopped speculation in the media about a possible move, with Real Madrid touted as potential suitors.
"If Real Madrid want him, then they can call me," Raiola told Marca.
"Madrid is a dangerous club, as the pressure can burn players, but Pogba is ready.
"He is very focused on his life and career. Nothing is insurmountable for him
"Paul thinks only of tomorrow. What is Paul? Surely more than 100 million."
Benitez focusing on football rather than new contract
21 February 2015
Contract talks at Napoli will take a back seat, says Rafael Benitez as they enter a crucial part of their campaign.
Rafael Benitez says he will put contract talks on hold to ensure Napoli are prepared for a crucial few months in their season.
The Spaniard has guided his side to third in the Serie A table, the Coppa Italia semi-finals and they are still in the UEFA Europa League - where they beat Trabzonspor 4-0 in the first leg of their last-32 tie.
Benitez has a contract in Naples until the end of the season, but any discussions over extending his stay will not take place while Napoli face a fixture congestion.
"It will take some time yet, but the important thing is to concentrate on the present," he said. "We must understand that we have a couple of months and it would be better not to talk too much on the market.
"There is no precise date for when I will announce my decision.
"I realise there is talk about all sorts of things, but we have to remember we're facing two crucial months for the season."
Napoli face Sassuolo in Serie A on Monday as they look to stay in touch with Roma and Juventus at the top of the table, with Benitez keen to ensure they stay focused against a dangerous side.
"Sassuolo are a good side who are playing well and you can see they have confidence in their abilities," he said.
"It will be a difficult game for us, but we must try to record a series of positive results, keeping our heads and working hard the way we always have done.
"I always had faith in my squad, but I think we can improve further. A defeat or a draw can happen, but we are in a positive moment of form.
"We won six in a row and that is not easy. If we continue like this, we can achieve at least one of our targets."
