Muntari shoots down £12m Portsmouth exit talk
Sulley Muntari shrugged off talk of a Pompey exit and insisted: I can't wait for the season to start.
The Ghana midfielder has spent the summer persistently linked with a 12m switch to Juventus.
It's an issue he currently won't be drawn on directly, although the Blues have repeatedly insisted he is not for sale – despite needing to raise funds.
Instead Muntari is focusing on raising his performances to fire Pompey into the Premier League top six.
The 23-year-old marked his maiden Fratton Park season with the FA Cup, having established himself at the heart of the midfield.
He is in line to feature against Bournemouth for his third pre-season friendly tonight.
Pompey will still be without Niko Kranjcar, John Utaka, Lassana Diarra and Kanu for the Dean Court clash, the quartet still on an extended break.
In the meantime, Muntari is primed for action.
And despite already insisting he is staying at Fratton, continued rumours of an exit have led him to reveal he is relishing the campaign ahead – with the Blues.
Muntari said: 'I've had two weeks spent relaxing but I'm back and playing.
'I'm just looking forward to the new season. I'm going to try my best and work for the team.
'That's the important thing. Not for myself but for the team.
'My first season was good. I won the FA Cup and I hope to continue this way.
'I am going to keep playing better and better so I can help my team to achieve. That's why I am here and that's why I play football. I will be working hard.
'Definitely we will improve because we have Europe now so, we have some more experienced players and the manager is good.
'Ben (Sahar), Glen (Little) and Peter (Crouch) are very good signings.
'I have already seen them in training and they are good players. That's why they are here.
'Harry Red-knapp knows what he is doing so there is no doubt about it.
'I want to get higher in the league and we will improve. We'll just see what happens.'
Muntari – who arrived from Udinese last summer – remains a crucial cog in Harry Redknapp's midfield, a factor which makes the Blues boss determined to keep him.
The Ghanian has still be linked with a return to Italy, though, with Italian giants Juventus continually chasing his signature.
Last season Muntari openly admitted he would love to play for one of the Premier League's top-four clubs in light of being linked with a switch to Rafa Benitez's Liverpool.
Pompey themselves are not looking to sell one of their top stars, although that stance may change should the offer be too good to turn down.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
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