Brazil Boss Claims Arsenal Target Cesar Will Stay At QPR

Arsenal target Julio Cesar will remain at Queens Park Rangers this season, according to his national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The Brazilian shot stopper was earmarked as one of first big names to leave Loftus Road this summer following the club's relegation from the Premier League last season.

The R's have offloaded top earners Loic Remy, Esteban Granero, Christopher Samba and Park Ji Sung over the summer, but the 31-year-old goalkeeper remains on the club's books, despite having not been selected by Harry Redknapp this season.

Cesar had been strongly linked with a move to Napoli before Liverpool's Pepe Reina joined the Serie A side on loan, while Arsenal have been touted as a possible destination over the course of the summer.

But despite being expected to leave QPR before the closure of the transfer window in under two weeks, Scolari has reassured his goalkeeper that playing in the second tier of English football will not affect his chances of representing his country at the World Cup next summer.

"Julio has resolved his matters with the club," Scolari is quoted as saying by the Independent.

"Hypothetically, we know where he will play this season. "We've talked to him, reaffirmed our trust in him during this week after we talked to his club.

"We have called him up again because by the end of the transfer window, his situation will be resolved, with him staying on with QPR.

"After that it will be up to his manager to play him or not."

Cesar signed a four year contract at Loftus Park after leaving Inter last summer, earning a reported £75,000 per week at the London club.

R's manager Redknapp admitted earlier this summer that the Brazilian would leave this summer, but insisted any club interested in the shot stopper's services could forget about trying to sign him on a loan deal.

"I think he's a goalkeeper for any team in the world he's that good, so to loan him out for a year and then have him back is absolutely pointless," Redknapp said, speaking in July.

"What's the point in loaning him for a year then getting him back on massive wages for another two years? He's in his prime at the moment, I'm sure he's wanted by clubs around the world."