De Laurentiis: Sarri can be Napoli´s Ferguson

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil has similar characteristics to club legend Dennis Bergkamp.

The North Londoners’ playmaker is enjoying a record-breaking season, having provided 16 assists in 20 league appearances, in his most consistent campaign since joining the club from Real Madrid in 2013.

Wenger believes German attacker Ozil has a calming influence in the Arsenal dressing room.

Yes, he s a bit like [Bergkamp], he said. Not that guy who stands up and speaks too much but every time he says something, it is straight to the point.

He s has a big influence. He s not an extrovert, as you know. But you don t win by coincidence and he has won in his career. He s demanding from his partners.

Per is [also] very important in that. He…

Borussia Dortmund will fight Bayern Munich all the way for the Bundesliga title this season, according to former defender Dede.

The 2012 champions have enjoyed a strong start to the season under new coach Thomas Tuchel, winning their first five league matches before back-to-back draws with Hoffenheim and Darmstadt.

Dortmund are four points behind leaders Bayern ahead of their trip to the Allianz Arena on Sunday and Dede, who won two league titles with the club during his career, has no doubt they will pose a genuine threat to the champions this term.

As a fan, you can say that the battle between Bayern Munich and Dortmund is the most important in the Bundesliga, he told Omnisport.  Bayern are a kind of exception in terms of talent, everyone knows that. But rig…

Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi is standing at a crossroad with one path leading to a new Inter Milan deal and another one pulling him towards Real Madrid.

The 25-year-old has been in sensational form for Nerazzurri this season and Inter Milan are willing to reward him for his outstanding exploits with a new contract that would keep him at the club until 2023.

Icardi signed a contract extension back in 2016 and is due to remain with Inter Milan until 2021 but the player himself appears to have different ideas

Icardi is said to be looking towards Real Madrid and is reluctant to put pen to paper on a new deal with Inter Milan until he’s had a meeting with Los Blancos who are said to be keen on his services.

Inter are well aware they could end up losing…

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said superstar captain Lionel Messi is clear to face Paraguay in La Albiceleste s CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier.

Messi missed two matches due to a knee injury before returning for Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League win over Manchester City and last week s shock Ligue 1 loss at Rennes.

The six-time Ballon d Or winner is away on international duty with Argentina, who will visit Paraguay on Thursday, and Messi has been given the all-clear to play.

Messi trained with us yesterday [Tuesday] without any problems and this morning too, so he s fine to play, Scaloni told reporters on Wednesday.

Which is the most important thing and he s like the rest of the group, wanting to get together and do the best for the nat…

Usain Bolt has been offered a contract by A-League club Central Coast Mariners, the Jamaican s management team have confirmed.

The former athletics star has been training with the Australian club since August and scored twice in a pre-season match this month.

The eight-time Olympic champion then rejected an offer to join Maltese champions Valetta despite uncertainty over whether the Mariners would try to sign him.

On Sunday, it was reported Bolt s representatives had been sent a proposed contract by Mariners chief executive Shaun Mielekamp in recent days.

When contacted by Omnisport, Bolt s management confirmed a deal had been offered, although they declined to specify the details.

Mielekamp was asked shortly before the Mariners A-League opener wi…

(GSM) Internazionale star Wesley Sneijder insists he will never again play for Real Madrid despite interest from former boss José Mourinho.

The Dutchman was sold by Real in 2009 to fund moves for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká as Florentino Perez was re-elected as the club s president.

He moved to Italy last season, where he won the treble with Inter in his debut season and was an integral part of the club s success.

And Sneijder has revealed that former boss Mourinho had tried to take him to Real in the summer, but the 26-year-old Dutchman maintains he has no intention to leave the European champions.

Did he (Mourinho) try to make me join Real again? Of course, Sneijder said in L Equipe.

We remain in contact but it is impossible.…

Marseille and Lyon return to Ligue 1 action this weekend after successful Champions League outings that saw the two French giants notch up victories.

Reigning French champions Marseille snuck past Slovakian side MSK Zilina 1-0 to record their first win and pick up their first points in European football s showcase competition this season.

Souleymane Diawara s 48th-minute header was enough to keep alive Marseille s hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time since they won the competition with present coach Didier Deschamps as captain in 1993.

They now turn their attention to Lille, 1-0 winners over Bulgarian team Levski Sofia in the Europa League on Thursday.

Lyon now top their Champions League group by three points after a satisfying 2-0 win…

Atletico Madrid captain Gabi has extended his contract, keeping him committed to the Vicente Calderon until 2017.

The midfielder was an influential member of a team that collected a first La Liga title since 1996 last season, as Atletico broke the domestic dominance of Barcelona and city rivals Real Madrid.

Gabi was also part of a side that reached the final of the UEFA Champions League, but ultimately suffered an agonising extra-time defeat to Real.

The 30-year-old was thrilled to be extending his stay at Vicente Calderon, and is itching to continue making history in the Spanish capital.

I had been looking forward to this renewal, he told the club s official website.

This is another dream in my life and now I hope to continue to help the team a…

Rodrigo Palacio has signed a new contract to keep him at Inter until the end of the 2016-17 season.

The 33-year-old has only made six starts in Serie A this term but he remains a firm favourite of head coach Roberto Mancini, who described him as a great professional earlier this week.

The Argentina international, who joined the club in 2012, has ended speculation over his future by agreeing to a new deal and says he is relishing the prospect of continuing at San Siro for the next 18 months.

Internazionale announce we have renewed the contract of Rodrigo Palacio until June 2017, the club stated on Friday.

Palacio added:  To continue to fight in this shirt is something unique, so I m very happy and I can t wait to take to the field for the great challenge…

Sadio Mane believes Liverpool are ready to win a first trophy under Jurgen Klopp after committing his future to the club with a new long-term contract.

Mane agreed a long-term deal on Thursday, with reports indicating he has improved his old contract by two years until 2023.

The former Southampton forward has hit six Premier League goals already this term, firing Liverpool to second in the table, behind last season s champions Manchester City.

Liverpool reached the final of the Champions League under Klopp in May but were beaten by Real Madrid, the German also overseeing losses to City and Sevilla in the EFL Cup and Europa League finals of 2016.

But Mane, who hit 20 goals in all competitions in 2017-18, feels the time is now right for Liverpool s wait for…