Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero reiterated that Denmark star Mikkel Damsgaard is ‘not for sale’ this summer.

The Danish winger has excelled since joining Samp last summer and has been one of the standout performers for the national team during EURO 2020.

Damsgaard and Denmark are preparing for a semi-final against England on Tuesday and Ferrero stressed he ‘expected’ the youngster to perform.

“I expected him to be this good at the European Championship,” Ferrero said at a press conference. “But he is not for sale.

“Either they bring something that makes [sporting director Carlo] Osti excited, or he won’t be sold. It’s no longer the same as before when one offer arrived, and we would sell the player.

“Now we want to make another stand. We want to keep the footballer, we want to enjoy him.”

Ferrero presented Roberto D’Aversa, who has signed a deal to succeed Claudio Ranieri at the Marassi.

“It took me longer because we couldn’t afford to make mistakes,” he said. “I watched how Ranieri played and went to see how D’Aversa plays.

“Then I looked at the elegant gentleman who gave serenity to the players. For me D’Aversa is Ranieri but 20 years younger.

“In terms of style, manners, movements, how he plays.”

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