Napoli are set to step aside for Inter Milan to win the race for Antonio Cassano. Azzurri president Aurelio de Laurentiis was full of praise for Sampdoria striker Cassano last week, declaring: "Cassano amuses me a lot. With me, I am sure, he would have behaved very professionally."

But Napoli sports chief Pierpaolo Marino insisted: "The words of the President tell the whole story. He always tells the truth, he listed the qualities and defects of the Sampdoria player.

"But I can say that even for Cassano there is no possibility of moving to Napoli."

Instead, Inter are ready to step in for the attacking firebrand.

Should they choose to cash in on Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer, Inter will close a deal for FC Twente striker Mark Arnautovic AND move for Cassano.

The former Roma star would already be an Inter player if Roberto Mancini had remained in charge last year.