De Rossi rules out Arsenal switch

Roma’s Italy international midfielder Daniele De Rossi has dismissed renewed rumours linking him with a move to England to join Arsenal.

The 26-year-old has been mentioned as a target for several clubs in England, but De Rossi insists that he is in no rush to leave the Italian capital.

De Rossi told the Italian media: “Arsenal? I have not heard anything.

“Roma have said I am not for sale and I only want to stay here.

“Obviously things would change if Roma wanted to sell me, but they have always wanted to keep me.”

De Rossi has spent the whole of his professional career with Roma, while he has also won close to 50 caps for the Italy national team.

Juventus have played down injury fears surrounding summer signing Diego, who has been hit by a thigh muscle problem.

The 24-year-old Brazil international was injured during training at the Peace Cup, but Juve’s medical staff says that the injury is not too serious.

Chief medic Fabrizio Tencone stated: “It is nothing serious, as we are not dealing with damage to the muscle.

“I think it will only take two days of rest, then a brief personalised training plan to fully recuperate. If it was something worse, then the recovery time would be far greater.

“There is a problem at the front of the thigh. Evidently the difference in muscular toning has not been entirely resolved yet.

“The reason we have given Diego a break is because in pre-season Juve are taking every precaution.”

Napoli coach Roberto Donadoni has praised the approach of striker Ezequiel Lavezzi during pre-season training with the Serie A club.

The 24-year-old Argentina international has been heavily linked with a move away from Naples, with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis launching a verbal attack on the player.

However, Donadoni says that Lavezzi has applied himself properly in recent times.

He told the told Corriere Dello Sport: “Lavezzi has been doing well. He has been training with professionalism and humility.

“He just has to be consistent in his work and this depends on him. I have never doubted him and for me there is no problem with Lavezzi.

“If a player shows he is serious, then there will always be an opening.

“But, I cannot do much if there is a personal problem between the club and a player.”