City on Antonio's case

Sampdoria have admitted that several bigger clubs are chasing Italian striker and Man City target Antonio Cassano.

City are reported to be serious about Cassano and Mark Hughes is tipped to have the most to spend of any manager after being given the vote of confidence by the club's mega-rich oil baron chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

Sampdoria chief Beppe Marotta revealed the Serie A club are expecting to have to deal with serious interest in the 26-year-old star during the January transfer window.

"Many big clubs want Cassano," he said. "We are proud to have a player who is wanted by major teams and I can assure you that is the case."

Marotta would not name the interested clubs but did rule out selling their star to rivals Napoli, flying high near the top of the Serie A table.

He said: "I will not. But Napoli have not made any approach and I do not think Napoli is a bigger club than Sampdoria."