Napoli sports chief Pierpaolo Marino highlighted the performance of new signing Fabiano Santacroce in yesterday's 2-0 defeat by Sampdoria.

Marino said: "Santacroce has produced an imperious performance against (Antonio) Cassano. He lifted the entire team, so much so that when I returned to the dressing room I was very confident about the resumption.

"But unfortunately things are not going well for us at the moment."