Stefano Okaka has played down reports linking him with a summer exit from Stadio Luigi Ferraris, stating that he never put in a transfer request. <br /><br />The likes of Monaco, Nice, Rennes, Southampton just to mention a few have been credited with an interest for the one - cap Italy international, who is believed to have fallen out of favour with the management of The Blucerchiati .<br /><br />&ldquo;I feel like an important member of Sampdoria and I still have a contract with the club, &rdquo; said Stefano Okaka to Sky Sport Italia.<br /><br />&ldquo;I never talked about leaving or about something that in recent months the press wrote. &rdquo; <br /><br />The Italian - Nigeria added:&nbsp; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always been happy with the team, but I can not prevent people from writing about such stories. <br /><br />&nbsp;&ldquo;Again, it all came up with the press, but for me it&rsquo;s not a problem.&rdquo;<br /><br />Okaka made Sampdoria&rsquo;s starting XI only once in the last six games of last season.<br /><br />Photo Credit : asromalive.it<br />