Hrvoje Milic on verge of Napoli switch

Maurizio Zamparini says Javier Pastore s struggles at Paris Saint-Germain are down to his inability to play alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Argentine midfielder has failed to reproduce the form which led to PSG splashing out a reported 40 million euros to buy him from Palermo in August 2011.

Palermo president Zamparini said Pastore was finding it difficult in Paris due to his struggles trying to play with Swedish superstar Ibrahimovic.

Why is he having trouble? Playing with Ibrahimovic is not easy, he told Corriere dello Sport.

His lack of form has prompted speculation the 23-year-old could make a swift return to Serie A, where he enjoyed two fruitful seasons.

Zamparini said Inter Milan were keen on securing his signature prior to his move to …

Rafael Benitez does not believe that Napoli s result in the Coppa Italia final against Fiorentina will define their season.

The Naples outfit are third in the Serie A table, eight points clear of Saturday s opponents, and with only three matches remaining they are almost certain of a qualifying berth for next year s UEFA Champions League.

Their focus shifts to the cup competition at the weekend, however, with the final at Stadio Olimpico in Rome giving Napoli the chance to regain the trophy they won in 2012.

But Benitez insists that it has been a positive campaign, regardless of the outcome.

Winning the Coppa Italia would be important for the growth of Napoli, Benitez said.

The season has been very positive with a new formation and new players.

Tomor…

Raymond Domenech s fate as France manager following his team s calamitous showing at Euro 2008 will be determined on Thursday at a high level meeting of his employers, the French Football Federation.

Domenech has a contract which runs until the 2010 World Cup but his position has come under fire after France tumbled out of the European championships at the first hurdle with just one point and one goal.

Speculation in the French press points to the 56-year-old being granted a temporary reprieve but if his battered team s fortunes don t improve rapidly for the World Cup qualifiers then the axe will fall.

France 1998 World Cup winning captain Didier Deschamps heads the list of possible candidates with Zinedine Zidane for one giving his stamp of approval to the f…

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella will not leave the Serie A club, according to president Mario Cognigni.

Montella has been linked with a move to Juventus and Milan as the Serie A season comes to a close but Cognigni told reporters on Friday that the former Roma striker would 100 per cent remain in Florence for the 2014-15 campaign.

Fiorentina are set to play Torino on Sunday in their final Serie A game of the season and Montella s men will finish fourth, regardless of the result.

There is no chance that Montella won t continue to be Fiorentina coach, Cognigni said.

He is staying, 100 per cent.

When Montella started as Fiorentina s coach in June 2012, the Florence-based club had just finished 15th in Italy s top tier but the 39-year-old has turned their f…

Arsenal have offered Eddie Nketiah a new contract, according to . The former Leeds United loanee will become a free agent next summer when his current deal with the Gunners runs out.

Arsenal technical director Edu has decided to offer the English striker a new contract. If Nketiah decides not to accept the new offer, then the North London club will sell him. West Ham United are among the clubs reported to be in the 22-year-old.

Nketiah came through the Arsenal youth academy and has played for the first team. However, the youngster has failed to establish himself as a key figure in manager Mikel Arteta’s team. The 22-year-old made four starts and 13 substitute appearances in the Premier League and made six starts and two substitute appearances in the Europa League for…

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata believes Lionel Messi can rightly be considered the greatest player ever and is therefore hopeful he does not join rivals Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola s City were widely considered the favourites to sign Messi earlier this year when the superstar forward handed in a transfer request at Barcelona.

The Argentina international remained in place at Camp Nou but is out of contract in June and has again been linked with City, as well as Paris Saint-Germain and Inter.

And Mata is worried about the prospect of Messi, who has seven goals in 13 appearances in all competitions this season, ending up at United s cross-city rivals next year.

I hope not! I hope not for the betterment of my club, Mata, speaking in his role as an…

Paris Saint-Germain have denied slanderous misrepresentations levelled at the club by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, who suggested the Ligue 1 champions enjoy tax privileges.

Speaking at Lyon s presentation of new signing Maciej Rybus, Aulas was critical of PSG s treatment of coach Laurent Blanc, who is reportedly close to being replaced by Unai Emery despite guiding the team to a second successive domestic treble in 2015-16.

The OL chief also indicated the club from the capital are subject to different taxation to other French sides due to their Qatari ownership.

I read in the press that PSG were considering ending their contract with the coach. I m shocked, said Aulas.

When we talk about compensation for coaches who just won three titles, and when…

Lazio are set to make a move for Chelsea flop Baba Rahman, .

The defender moved to Stamford Bridge from Bundesliga side FC Ausburg last August on a five year deal for a fee of around £22m but failed to make an real impact on the first team, racking up just fifteen league appearances, with a handful of other outings coming in Europe and domestic cups.

With Antonio Conte set to that charge after this summer’s European Championships, a number of the Blues’ fringe players look set to move on and Rahman could be one of the first out the door with Lazio readying a bid.

A senior international, Rahman has been capped eighteen times for Ghana and played every minute of their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with his side eventually losing in the final to the …

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger insists Germany will win both their forthcoming World Cup 2010 qualifying matches without key injured veterans Torsten Frings and Michael Ballack.

It is important to win these two matches, said Bayern Munich s Schweinsteiger with Germany set to face minnows Liechtenstein in Vaduz on Saturday and Finland in Helsinki next Wednesday.

We know that we have a lot of potential and quality in the side.

We are young and we are hungry.

Of course, Ballack and Frings are two important players, but we are owed a victory.

Defensive midfielder Frings, with 77 caps for his country, was forced to pull out of both games after breaking his nose playing in an exhibition game of basketball for his club Werder Bremen at the week…

Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery is hoping to play a role in next Wednesday s opening Champions League clash against Steaua Bucharest on his way back from ankle surgery.

Ribery tore ankle ligaments playing for France against Italy during Euro 2008 last June, but resumed full training with the Bayern squad on Monday and is hoping to be on the bench next week in Bucharest.

Having originally targeted the Champions League visit of Lyon to Munich on September 30 as his first game back, Ribery is now hoping to play some part in next Wednesday s clash with Steaua.

I hope I ll at least be part of the squad, he said.

The 25-year-old then wants to play a full role in Bayern s Champions League clash with Lyon at Munich s Allianz Arena.

Ribery sai…