Palermo chief confirms Coach Gattuso

Palermo chief Maurizio Zamparini has announced the appointment of Gennaro Gattuso as the club’s new tactician.



“Gattuso is our Coach for next season,” the President told Ita Sport Press. “I can confirm that officially. A club statement will soon be released on the matter.



“We are happy to have such an important personality as Gattuso on our bench, someone who has written important chapters in the history of Italian football.



“I’m sure that with his great experience he will take us immediately back into Serie A.”



Gattuso, who joined Sion from Milan last summer, has limited coaching experience seeing as he took charge of 10 games this term while acting as a player-Coach in Switzerland.



The 35-year-old replaces Giuseppe Sannino after the former Siena boss asked to leave the outfit following relegation to Serie B.

Paulo Dybala on Manchester City radar

Manchester City are preparing a £2.5million swoop for Palermo's young Argentine striker Paulo Dybala - dubbed the 'new Sergio Aguero'.



Reports in Italy claim City have made their interest known to Palermo and are aware that the 19-year-old is available for just 3m euros now the that Sicilians have suffered relegation to Serie B.



Palermo paid a London company fronted by agent Gustavo Mascardi roughly £3million for the teenage prodigy, who had scored 17 goals for Instituto in the Argentine second division, last summer.



But Dybala has struggled in his first year in Italy, playing regularly but only hitting the net three times.



It has been claimed that he has failed to integrate into the dressing room and spends most of his time away from the club in his hotel room watching Argentine TV on the internet.



City, with their mini-Argentinean enclave of Pablo Zabaleta, Carlos Tevez and Aguero himself, could help Dybala settle into life away from Argentina - where the youngster lost his father aged only 15.



Dybala's family has Italian origins, so a work permit would be no issue should City decide to sign the player.

Heynckes taking a break for now

Bayern Munich's triple-winning boss Jupp Heynckes today confirmed he will not coach a team next season, despite receiving offers to take charge of "rich clubs where money does not matter".



Heynckes has been heavily linked with the vacancy at his former club Real Madrid after the departure of Jose Mourinho to Chelsea, but has opted to take a break to spend more time with his family.



The 68-year-old, who led Bayern to the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal titles this season, said at a press conference: "I will not seek a new job after July 1, either at home or abroad.

"I told my wife last summer I will fulfil my contract at Bayern and then not continue.



"Other clubs were interested in signing me after this season - rich clubs where money does not matter.



"Such clubs have never interested me."

He admitted age was a factor in his decision, adding: "I've noticed, especially in the last few weeks, that I have reached an age at which regeneration takes longer.

"I felt that I went to the limit, it was incredibly stressful."

Bayern executive chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who helped install former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola as Heynckes' successor for next season, suggested the door will always be open for a man who has coached, among others, Real Madrid, Benfica and Schalke, in a long career.



Rummenigge said: "If sometime, after his holiday has passed and his spirit has returned, he can call myself and (supervisory board chairman) Uli (Hoeness).

"The doors at Bayern are still wide open."

Sagna in talks on new Arsenal deal

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has confirmed he is in talks to extend his contract, but he has not ruled out a return to France.



Sagna, 30, is entering into the final season of his current deal at the Emirates Stadium, and so could become a free agent this time next year and agree a lucrative Bosman transfer.



Big-spending pair Paris St Germain and Monaco are said to be monitoring the situation, but former Auxerre defender Sagna, who has twice recovered from broken leg, hinted he would be happy to stay on at Arsenal if an agreement can be brokered.



Speaking to L'Equipe, Sagna said: "There are [talks], but I still haven't extended my contract. "I am talking, and I am not at a bad club either." When asked whether he could return to play in France, Sagna, who is currently on international duty, added: "It is possible. "We would have to see in which conditions and, in sporting terms, what they propose. I won't go just anywhere. "If I stay at Arsenal, I will try to have a good season, there's the World Cup at the end of it. "If I am to leave, it will be a new challenge."

Jesus Navas excited by change

Jesus Navas insists he never had any second thoughts about choosing to join Manchester City - a decision he says he made some time ago.



Sevilla confirmed last night they had accepted an offer from City for the 27-year-old Spain winger, with reports suggesting the deal could be worth up to £24million.



There had been speculation Real Madrid were keen on his services, but Navas, who has spent his entire career to date with local club Sevilla, said he had made up his mind on a switch to City long ago.



Speaking today, Navas was quoted as saying by the Spanish media: "We've been talking with Manchester City for four months. The decision is taken.



"There had been rumours (about Real Madrid), but Manchester City were in from the start and I had decided some time ago. It's a good project and it was the moment to make the step.



"The Premier League is a competition where the football is very fast. I'm really looking forward to it. Manchester City are making a great team.



"I'm going from Sevilla, which is a very nice place, and I'm going to a great club in England."



He added on Sevilla's official website: "It was my choice. I'm very happy with the decision. I wanted to continue growing there and they've put a lot of faith in me and I want to continue doing well there.



"It's difficult because I've spent many years enjoying playing in front of these fans but I've made my decision, I wanted to go there. It's a good step for me and I never had any hesitation.



"I want to thank the (Sevilla) fans and the club for all that they've given me."



Navas is widely expected to be joined at City by Manuel Pellegrini, with the Chilean favourite to take over the vacant managerial post at the Etihad Stadium.



Navas, who is on Spain duty ahead of the upcoming Confederations Cup in Brazil, said: "I don't know Pellegrini personally, but I've heard good things about him. He's a great coach."

Reina denies Barcelona return

Pepe Reina has denied speculation he will return to Barcelona and has confirmed he would be open to extending his Liverpool contract.



Widespread reports have claimed that Reina is a target for Barcelona, if current No.1 Victor Valdes leaves the Spanish champions next summer.



However, Reina has stressed that he is happy at Anfield and has dismissed talk of a return to his first club as 'only rumours'.



"I have my own contract with Liverpool for three more years," said Reina. "Nothing has changed.





"If so, we want to make it bigger and my future is with Liverpool.



"Right now, about Barca, there are only rumours and only people talking about possibilities. There are no facts. I cannot talk further on that."



Valdes is currently expected to leave Barcelona in 2014 when his contract expires and Reina respects his fellow Spain international's position.



Reina added: "Victor has said he will not move from Barcelona and wants to fulfil his contract, and that must be respected."

Courtois keen on Benteke move

Thibaut Courtois thinks fellow countryman Christian Benteke could be just the man Atletico Madrid need to fill the gap left by Radamel Falcao.



Atletico snapped up young Rayo Vallecano striker Leo Baptistao on Monday as they seek to replace the prolific Falcao and have also been linked with a number of other forwards.



One of these is Benteke, who won himself a long list of admirers with his performances for Aston Villa last season, and goalkeeper Courtois believes Atletico would get themselves a "great signing" if they lure the 22-year-old to the Vicente Calderon.



"He's a very strong centre-forward, tall, but with very good technique and skilful with the ball at his feet," said Courtois, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at Atletico from Chelsea.



"I think that he could be a great signing for Atletico. During these days with the national team I'm going to ask him about his future."



Courtois added of the former Genk forward in quotes reported by the Spanish press: "I know him well, we played together when we were young. Benteke is a player who has worked hard, he left Genk and had several loans spells that has helped him grow.



"He had a sensational 2011/12 season with Genk and that led to the attention from the Premier League."