On this day: Juventus target shrugs off Portsmouth exit talk - before joining Inter Milan days later

The Ghana midfielder had spent the summer persistently linked with a £12m switch to Juventus.

It was an issue he wouldn't be drawn on directly, although the Blues repeatedly insisted he is not for sale – despite needing to raise funds.

Instead Muntari was 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.

And despite already insisting he was 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 Redknapp 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 would indeed go on to leave Fratton Park just four days later.

He joined italian giants Inter Milan where he’d win two Serie A titles and the Champions League in 2010.