Vialli believes Beckham and Owen will resist lure of Italy

Gianluca Vialli, the former Chelsea manager, believes David Beckham and Michael Owen will never swap the Premiership for a move to Serie A. Reports in recent months have linked Beckham with a move to Internazionale and Juventus, while Owen has also been a previous target for top Italian clubs.

But Vialli, who arrived on English shores as a player with Chelsea in 1996 before going on to succeed Ruud Gullit two years later, believes the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool do not need the cash such transfers would generate.

"I don't think Beckham and Owen will ever go to Italy. Manchester and Liverpool don't need money and that is why I think they will not allow them to go," said Vialli, speaking at the centenary celebrations of his first club, Cremonese.

The former Italy international enjoyed success in his two-year reign at Stamford Bridge, while lasting only one season at First Division Watford before being sacked for the second time in his career. But he is not bitter and believes Italy has much to learn from English football. "I am absolutely satisfied with my experience in English football because despite the two dismissals it allowed me to win more than one trophy and to live in a different environment from Italy, where I feel very happy," he added.

"For me to live in England and be part of English football is the maximum of this life. Italy should learn from the English system regarding security and civility."

Arsenal's Patrick Vieira may replace Chelsea's Marcel Desailly as captain of France. The national coach Jacques Santini will wait until Thursday to announce who will captain the side for their Euro 2004 qualifiers against Malta and Israel.

Desailly was left out of the 20-man squad because of injury problems. Real Madrid'sZinedine Zidane or Vieira are expected to take over the armband in his absence, but Santini made it clear he could pick someone else.

"I hope I can announce it as soon as possible, which means on Thursday," Santini said. "Wearing the armband is something important. I won't necessarily choose between those two. The captain is above all a leader and an intermediary on the pitch It means more than two players could wear the armband."

Santini explained he wanted all his players in Clairefontaine before making his decision. Questioned on whether the captaincy would be on a temporary basis or not, Santini replied: "Desailly will come back when fit. He remains a pillar of the French team."