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Benitez 1-20 to bag vacant Bernabeu job

NAPOLI say a hastily-arranged press conference scheduled for Thursday afternoon has not been organised to confirm the departure of head coach Rafael Benitez.

On Wednesday, Ladbrokes cut their odds about former Liverpool boss Benitez being named the next Real Madrid manager from 1-5 to 1-20, but Napoli have released a statement saying the briefing "concerns only footballing matters related to Napoli and not the future of Benitez".

Relegated QPR announced on Wednesday that Joey Barton, Rio Ferdinand and Bobby Zamora are among six players released by the club following their relegation from the Premier League.

The trio, plus Richard Dunne, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Brian Murphy, have not been offered new deals and will depart when their contracts expire next month.

Ladbrokes make Premier League new boys Watford their 6-1 favourites to sign Barton.

The Hoops are 9-2 to win promotion back to the Premier League next season.

England's Under-20s open their campaign at the Toulon tournament against Morocco on Wednesday afternoon.

Derby striker Kwame Thomas has been called up to the squad to replace the injured Jordon Ibe. Thomas made his senior debut in the Championship for the Rams this season and has won seven caps at U20 level for England, scoring twice.

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