Reports in Italy claim that club captain Angelo Palombo has decided to take a pay cut to remain with Sampdoria for next season.

The influential midfielder has been linked with several top clubs including Fiorentina, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli and Inter.

The midfielder has been one shining light in Sampdoria's poor 2010/11 season and this news will help ease the pain for the fans after the clubs relegation to Serie B.

The club captain is joined in the squad by Sampdoria team-mates Antonio Cassano and Stefano Lucchini, but he believes that Sampdoria have more to offer to the national team.

“I hope that Giampaolo Pazzini and Daniele Gastaldello find space in the future at some stage. Gastaldello is one of the most consistent defenders in the Italian championship.”

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Palombo is a regular in the squad and Cassano had been widely expected to be recalled once Marcello Lippi's reign as Azzurri manager ended.  Lucchini's selection comes as something of a surprise, even to the man himself. "It is a dream come true, but I really did not expect this at all. There was no hint. I had read so many names in the newspapers over the last few days, but mine never appeared. It really is quite a shock."

Italy squad to play Ivory Coast in a friendly at Upton Park on August 10th:

Goalkeepers: Marchetti (Cagliari), Sirigu (Palermo), Viviano (Bologna)

Defenders: Antonini (Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Bonucci (Juventus), Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Lucchini (Sampdoria), Molinaro (Stuttgart), Motta (Juventus)

Midfielders: De Rossi (Roma), Lazzari (Cagliari), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pepe (Juventus)

Attackers: Amauri (Juventus), Balotelli (Inter), Borriello (Milan), Cassano (Sampdoria), Quagliarella (Napoli), Rossi (Villarreal)

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When asked if Angelo Palombo or Giampaolo Pazzini would be following Gigi Del Neri and Beppe Marotta to Turin, he replied:

"The President has already declared that they are not for sale."

The tactician also spoke with excitement about his new adventure.

"It’s an honour to be here. I felt incredible joy last night when I was given the okay to complete the move. It’s an honour to be here and the Champions League will be a fantastic stage to play on. We’ll always give our best."

Finally, he commented on Antonio Cassano.

"He is an important player and I want our relationship to be clear from day one. Our bond will grow and I’m sure he’ll have a great season as he will want to break into the Italy side for the European Championship."

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Pazzini has scored 7 goals so far this season and has been one of the main driving forces behind Samp's rise into the top five of the table.

Sampdoria captain Angelo Palombo has also been called up to the squad for the games on November 14th and 18th.

Full Squad :

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari).

Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Fabio Grosso (Juventus), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan).

Midfielders: Davide Biondini (Cagliari), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Livorno), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Daniele Galloppa (Parma), Marco Marchionni (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Andrea Pirlo (Milan).

Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Raffaele Palladino (Genoa), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).

The Italian international midfielder is pleased to continue playing at the Marassi. "We were pulling from both sides and in the end we reached an agreement. I am delighted about it," he said.

He will retain the captain’s armband for next season.

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