Serie A Discussion

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Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko is flattered by interest from Real Madrid but claims he is happy with the Turin side.

The former Liverpool man has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu as coach Jose Mourinho seeks a midfield enforcer, with Lassana Diarra having been tipped to leave the Spanish capital.

"All I know about it is from the press. It makes me happy that a club like Real Madrid want me,'' Sissoko told Spanish newspaper Marca.

"It's fantastic, but I still have two years on my contract at Juventus - a club I have great respect for. I'm flattered by the interest from Madrid, but I'm a Juventus player.''

Sissoko played with Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso at Liverpool and has fond memories of partnering the Spain star during his Anfield days.

"It was a special time,'' he said. "Playing with Xabi is simple because he's a great player. I played really well alongside him and we had a good relationship in the dressing room - he's a great person.''

Sissoko has already played in Spain, with Valencia, but the Mali midfielder believes he has since improved as a player.

"I'm a better player than I was at Valencia,'' he said. "I'm much more complete and experienced. I was 17 when I arrived in Valencia and now I'm much better after having played in England and Italy.''

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Serie A champions AC Milan have not given up on signing Fiorentina's Riccardo Montolivo, as coach Massimiliano Allegri allegedly met with the midfielder at the weekend, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.

The San Siro side are eager to add a new midfielder to their squad because of the departure of Andrea Pirlo to Juventus on a free transfer, and Allegri sees the 26-year-old as the ideal replacement.

Montolivo, who has also been linked with Inter and Juventus, has a contract until the summer of 2012 and revealed in May that he will not sign an extension with Fiorentina.

The club are resigned to losing their star midfielder this summer, but will not let him leave on the cheap.

AC Milan are reluctant to be held to ransom for Montolivo, however, and are hopeful of lowering Fiorentina's demands by including creative forward Antonio Cassano as part of the deal.

The striker joined AC Milan in January, but has been unable to make the desired impact at the Scudetto winners, and may be used as a bargaining chip in any proposed deal.

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Thiago Silva has no intention of swapping AC Milan for Barcelona, despite admitting contact with the Catalans, and is angling for a pay rise at San Siro, Goal.com has learned.

The defender announced on Brazilian TV show 'Zico na area' on TV Esporte Interactivo earlier this week that he had discussed the possibility of a transfer with the Champions League holders.

However, a Milan source disclosed that the centre-back is hoping to use Barca's interest to improve terms on his contract at Via Turati and the Italian champions will resist any attempt to prise him away.

"Thiago Silva is not for sale," the source said to Goal.com. "He wants better wages and so as usually happens, a player will threaten to leave for Barcelona, but Milan consider him unsellable.

"He said what he said in order to get a better wage from Milan. His deal expires in 2016, but it would be no surprise if within a few months he renegotiates his wages and adjusts his current terms. That's how this is likely to end."

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani told Italian media on Wednesday morning that Silva is 'the best defender in the world' but the player wants his pay to match his position as the most valuable asset in Massimiliano Allegri's squad.

Barcelona are unlikely to be able to force Milan into a sale given their current budgetary restrictions. An exorbitant fee, in excess of €50 million (£44m), would be required to snatch Thiago from Milan but the reigning European champions have only €45m (£39.5m) available for transfers this summer.

"Of course, it's not impossible [that he'll leave] as in today's football everyone has a price," said the source. "But I don't think Barcelona will arrive with a €50-60m (£44-52.8m) cash offer for Silva, as that is what they would need.

"It would have to be one of those monster offers that would change public opinions, but I really don't think Barcelona will spend all that money for a defender.

"It's true [Carles] Puyol has struggled, but it's not like Barca have such a big problem in defence that they need a great defender."

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Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko admits he is flattered by reported interest from Real Madrid.

Sissoko, 26, has been linked with a return to Spain following a previous spell with Valencia and reports claim he could be a replacement for Lassana Diarra at the Bernabeu.

However, the Juve man believes he still has time in Turin following a less than perfect season which was hampered by injury.

"All I know about it is from the press. It makes me happy that a club like Real Madrid want me," Sissoko told Marca in an interview.

"It’s fantastic, but I still have two years on my contract at Juventus, a club I have great respect for; I’m flattered by the interest from Madrid, but I’m a Juventus player."

A move to Madrid would see him play alongside former Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso.

"It was a special time," he said. "Playing with Xabi is simple because he’s a great player. I played really well alongside him and we had a good relationship in the dressing room – he’s a great person."

Sissoko left Valencia for Anfield in 2005 and feels he has come a long way since.

"I’m a better player than I was at Valencia," he added.

"I’m much more complete and experienced. I was 17 when I arrived in Valencia and now I’m much better after having played in England and Italy."

Sissoko made just four starts for Juve last season as his campaign ended in January following a serious left-knee injury.

He has also been linked with Lyon as part of a deal for Michel Bastos.

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Xherdan Shaqiri is heading for the Basel exit door in the summer transfer window as Roma have shown an interest in signing the winger, according to Il Messaggero.

The Stadio Olimpico outfit are eager to add some fresh blood to their squad after a disappointing season where they had to settle for sixth spot in the Serie A table, and new head coach Luis Enrique sees Shaqiri as a potential addition to his squad.

The 19-year-old winger has developed into an important first-team player at Basel in the past two seasons and his good performances have alerted his abilities to a host of European clubs.

Shaqiri has been linked with Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool, Manchester United and Fiorentina in the past few months, but Basel have yet to receive an official offer for the exciting talent.

The young attacker is currently playing at the European Under-21 Championships in Denmark, and helped his side to a 1-0 win over the hosts in their group opener.

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Inter's Samuel Eto'o has revealed that he could move to the Premier League this summer.

Last month, the Cameroon striker claimed that he would not leave the Giuseppe Meazza shortly after his side's Coppa Italia triumph, but he now appears to be having second thoughts, with a switch to England possibly on the cards.

"I am currently considering my options. I have one month to decide as to whether I want to stay put or choose to move to the Premier League," Eto'o was quoted as saying by Il Corriere dello Sport.

"I am now 30-years-old and it is very important for me to think about my future before I sign what could be my last contract. I have already shown that I have what it takes to play in Italy and I now have the idea of proving myself in England."

The 30-year-old attacker joined Inter from Barcelona in the summer of 2009. His current contract with the Serie A side runs until the summer of 2014, and his words may spark interest in the Premier League.

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Giuseppe Bozzo, the agent of Antonio Cassano, has stated that his client is happy at AC Milan and that he has no intention of leaving the Serie A champions.

Recent reports suggested that the 28-year-old had been interesting Fiorentina, and a summer transfer appeared to be on the cards.

However, Bozzo claims that Cassano would rather stay at San Siro instead, telling Tuttosport: "Antonio is feeling very well at AC Milan. The rumours about a potential move to Fiorentina are nothing more but speculation after some fun in the dressing room at the national team."

Cassano joined AC Milan from Sampdoria in January and despite collecting the Serie A title, he faced stiff competition for a starting berth from the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexandre Pato and Robinho, and could struggle to gain regular first-team action next season.

AC Milan are reportedly close to signing young forward Stephan El Shaarawy from Genoa on a co-ownership deal, thus further decreasing Cassano's chances of getting playing time, but the Italy international seems determined to fight for his chance at San Siro.

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Juventus and Napoli target Gokhan Inler has stated that he is putting rumours regarding his future to one side to go on holiday, after a busy season with Udinese and Switzerland.

Reports in the Italian media have stated that the defensive midfielder is on the verge of a move away from Francesco Guidolin's side, but this is not in the player's thoughts.

"After a long, intense and successful year - from the World Cup to Champions League qualification with Udinese to my new role as Switzerland captain - the holidays are finally here!" the 26-year-old stated on his Facebook page.

"I'd say I've earned myself some rest and I'm looking forward to the sea. However, I won't forget you even while I'm far away and I hope you'll do the same and keep sending mails.

"As soon as there's anything noteworthy concerning my future, I will let you know. Check the newspapers now and then! Heartfelt greetings - I wish you all relaxing holidays! Yours, Gokhan," he commented.

Recent reports state that the 26-year-old is set to choose a move to Naples over Turin, but his break may put any potential move on hold for the time being.

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Bojan Krkic's agent has given the biggest indication yet that the Barcelona forward could move to Roma from the Camp Nou.

The Spain Under-21 attacker has found his opportunities in the first team limited in Catalonia, and has worked alongside new Roma coach Luis Enrique at Barcelona B.

A move to the Italian capital has been touted in the press since the 41-year-old took the reigns at the Stadio Olimpico, and agent Zoran Vekic has stated that a loan deal could be of interest to the Linyola-born striker.

"I do not think there will be problems between the Giallorossi and Barca to agree. The formula will be more [than] likely a loan with the right of redemption. Bojan really likes this destination," the agent said, according to romagiallorossi.it.

The representative also reiterated his concern about the lack of game time for the 20-year-old, with moves being made to remedy the problem.

"Bojan needs minutes and Barcelona are [surrounded] by great players. Soon I will meet the leaders of the Catalan club to sort the problem," he concluded.

The La Masia graduate is currently on duty for his country at the Under-21 Championships in Denmark, after scoring six goals in 26 appearances for Pep Guardiola's side in 2010-11.

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AC Milan are still keeping track of Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik, as they attempt to lure the Slovakian to San Siro next season, according to reports.

QSVS.it comments that the Scudetto champions are attempting to use notable Italian agent Mino Raiola to convince Hamsik's representative, Juraj Venglos, to persuade the Naples club to part with one of their most prized assets.

Raiola, a Naples native, has strong links with the city and the club, and he has conducted business with AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani before, having brokered the Zlatan Ibrahimovic deal from Barcelona last year.

However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has always stated that the 23-year-old, who is tied to a contract until 2015, is not for sale while adding his club were "no supermarket".

AC Milan, meanwhile have insisted that they are not interested in Hamsik, although full-back Gianluca Zambrotta recently suggested he would fit in perfectly at San Siro.

Massimiliano Allegri's men are actively searching for a new addition to their midfield, and have also been linked with Fiorentina's Riccardo Montolivo, while a co-ownership deal for Genoa's Stephan El Shaarawy is also thought to be close to completion.