Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said Friday he was pinning his hopes on Sampdoria’s talented forward Antonio Cassano.

Italy play Estonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Tallinn later on Friday with a much changed side from the one that was humiliated at the World Cup a couple of months ago.

And the former Fiorentina coach believes the 28-year-old Cassano, who was not part of predecessor Marcello Lippi’s plans, is the one who can make his team tick.

“I expect Cassano to be lethal in one-on-one situations, the team have to play for him and he must play for the team,” he told Rai TV.

Prandelli also expressed his belief that in the long run 24-year-old Luca Cigarini, a Napoli player on loan at Sevilla, could be the man to replace playmaker Andrea Pirlo when he hangs up his boots.

“When he was at Parma he was in the under-21 set-up and we called him the professor,” said Prandelli of Cigarini.

“He’s developing a lot in Spain but Pirlo is tying my hands: other than having great technique, he’s also a great professional.”

English Premier League club Tottenham were still awaiting clearance Wedensday on the last-gasp, cut-price transfer of Dutch playmaker Rafael van der Vaart from Real Madrid.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp became aware of 27-year-old van der Vaart’s availability just two hours before the transfer deadline.

Redknapp claimed the Holland star had been due to join Bayern Munich for 18 million pounds but the move broke down on Monday, and Spurs had swooped in a bid to sign the player for a slashed eight million.

“It’s still dragging on. We are just waiting to see whether it’s all gone through,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

“We are waiting for clearance. The chairman is dealing with it and Darren Eales the secretary, there is nothing more I can do now.”

Redknapp revealed he turned his attention to van der Vaart, who played in the World Cup final in South Africa, once it became apparent that Real were prepared to part with him in a cut-price deal.

“I think he was going to Bayern Munich yesterday for about 18 million, but suddenly it became an awful lot cheaper,” he said.

“He is available now for about eight million. He is a quality player. He is a Dutch international and a great footballer.

“For that sort of money, he is a top player and he will improve us for sure. We have made the effort, whether we can pull it off or not we will have to see.

“I am hopeful. It could happen. It was a last-minute job. When I came in this morning (Tuesday) it certainly wasn’t something I was looking to do.”

On the attributes Van der Vaart would bring to Tottenham, Redknapp said: “He is a great passer of the ball, he is a top footballer. He will join in here and play the way we like to play, he would be a big plus for us.

“He looked like he was going for 18 million but then the fee came crashing down because the deadline got close. If the chairman can pull it off, I think he will have got a real bargain.”

Spanish striker Fernando Torres has revealed that Liverpool rejected bids for his services this summer.

Torres was linked with moves to the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.

“The club received offers and decided to reject them,” he told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.

“That’s where it ends. Everyone thought I was leaving for Spain during the World Cup when there was nothing in it.

“I said the day I returned to train that my future was at Liverpool. I have a contract until 2013.

“This year our target has to be the top four. Like every team-mate, we all want to improve and win titles and for that it is fundamental we get new owners.”

[Source: Cadena Cope]

Sami Khedira has completed his move to Real Madrid. The Stuttgart midfielder will sign a five-year contract at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Khedira, who moves to Madrid for €15million, had been continually linked with a move to Real after his impressive performances at the World Cup.

Stuttgart sporting director Fredi Bobic says the club could not deny Khedira his ‘dream move’ to Real Madrid.

“Sami Khedira is a true leader on the pitch and he personifies everything that Stuttgart stand for. Therefore, it’s not easy to let go of him,” he told the official Stuttgart website.

“However, on the other hand, we couldn’t deny Sami his dream move to Real Madrid. We’d like to wish him all the best at his new club.”

Stuttgart’s German international midfielder Sami Khedira is closing in on a move to Spanish club Real Madrid, the club’s sporting director Fredi Bobic confirmed on Thursday.

“It’s not often we receive such an offer from Real Madrid,” Bobic told the daily Bild. “It’s up to Real and us now to reach agreement.”

The player’s agent Jorg Neubauer added: “It’s true he wants to go to Real. He’s talking now with Stuttgart.”

Khedira was one of the revelations of the 2010 World Cup where Germany finished third, and is under contract with Stuttgart until 2011.

According to media reports Stuttgart are ready to let the 23-year-old leave for 15 million euro, while Real Madrid are ready to pay between 8 million and 10 million euro.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has denied reports that he has made a bid for Internazionale’s in-form midfielder Wesley Sneijder. Reports had claimed the Scot made an official bid for the Netherlands star but the offer was turned down by the Italian champions.

However, Ferguson has rubbished those reports, reassuring his belief in United’s squad as the youngsters of the squad begin to gather experience.

“I believe the squad is stronger than last season with the younger players having another year under their belts,” he told the Mail on Sunday.

“I don’t know where those reports about Sneijder came from. How can anybody turn me down when I haven’t even made a bid?”

The 26-year-old midfielder has been one of the best performers of the World Cup in South Africa, scoring five goals to help Bert van Marwijk’s side to secure a spot in Sunday’s final against Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

Ivory Coast international Kader Keita has left Turkish giants Galatasaray for Qatari club Al Sadd. The forward joined Gala last season from Olympique Lyonnais and was an active member of their squad, but failed to settle in Istanbul and accepted the offer of a return to Al Sadd, whom he previously represented between 2002 and 2005 before moving to France.

Al Sadd, who also have former Arsenal youngster Quincy Owusu Abeyie in their ranks, have paid Galatasaray a little over eight million euros for Keita’s signature.

Keita was part of the Ivory Coast team that failed to make it out of the Group of Death at the 2010 World Cup.

[Source: Galatasaray]

Internazionale are desperate to tie World Cup star Wesley Sneijder. To keep Manchester United away from their playmaker, the Serie A champs have now offered him a 2015 contract extension.

“Wesley could stay on until 2015,” Sneijder’s agent Soren Lerby told De Telegraaf.

“After the World Cup we will head to Milan and sit down to speak with the directors.”

Sportmediaset.it reports Inter have already summoned Sneijder for a meeting to discuss an extension.

The Nerazzurri want to move fast after reports came trough about Manchester United who want to lure the Dutch international to Old Trafford.

Hernan Crespo has dismissed rumours about retiring from football and wants to stay at Parma for another year.

The former Internazionale and Milan striker turned 35 yesterday and has spent the summer working as a pundit at the World Cup.

When asked if he felt tired of football, Crespo said: “Absolutely not. I am enjoying myself like crazy.

“You know what keeps me going? The enthusiasm of the fans who pay for the tickets, then the training sessions and finally the games.

“I have a year left on my contract and I am going forward.”

Crespo then gave his judgement about Parma’s new Coach Pasquale Marino.

“Judging from what he did at Catania and Udine, I like him a lot. His teams have always played good football.”

Manchester United are preparing a £15 million bid for Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

The Manchester Evening News says the 24-year-old centre half is the main target to bolster United’s defence this summer.

Cahill is tipped to benefit from England’s World Cup debacle with Ledley King, Matthew Upson, Jamie Carragher and John Terry all failing to make an impact.

The former Aston Villa defender has also been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

It’s likely England boss Fabio Capello will name Cahill in his squad for next month’s friendly against Hungary and the European Championship qualifier with Bulgaria in September.