Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti’s job hangs in the balance just 14 DAYS after Serie A title win… with the Italian ‘no longer on speaking terms with mad-cap owner Aurelio De Laurentiis’ and the club lining up Rafa Benitez as a replacement
- Napoli could replace Luciano Spalletti with Rafa Benitez as boss next year
- Contract talks with the title-winning boss have frozen with club’s president
- Spalletti led Napoli to their first Serie A championship for 33 years this season
Napoli’s have yet to agree terms on a new deal for coach Luciano Spalletti, and could be replaced by Rafael Benitez next season.
The 64-year-old’s contract expires at the end of next season, after the club recently triggered an extension on his deal until the summer of 2024 and he had been expected to ink a new deal following Napoli’s Serie A title win.
Now La Gazzetto dello Sport are reporting that negotiations with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis on a new deal have frozen, and the pair are not on speaking terms.
With reports linking the newly-crowned Serie A champions with former boss Benitez after contact was made with the Spaniard over a possible return to the club.
Napoli secured their first Serie A title for 33 years earlier this month, sparking wild celebrations in the city.
Luciano Spalletti’s future as Napoli boss in doubt after contract talks with the club froze
Contact has been made with Rafa Benitez over a possible return to replace Spalletti at Napoli
Upon the victory it was believed Spalletti’s would be offered a new two-year deal, with a higher salary than his current €2.8m per season and met De Laurentiis for dinner last week to chat over the contract.
However, there has been no confirmation on any new deal and earlier this week De Laurentiis refused to be drawn on Spalletti’s future when asked about the club’s manager.
Instead the president chose to thank the team for their efforts this season, with no mention of the man who lead them to their title victory.
Spalletti is lauded by his players after leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis failed to thank Spalletti for title win in recent comments
Benitez had a two-year spell in charge of the Italian side in 2013. Leading them to a Coppa Italia win over Fiorentina and qualification to the Champions League in his first season of the club.
He left at the end of the 2014-15 season, after Lazio pipped Napoli to fourth spot and moved to take charge of Real Madrid.
The former Champions League and Europa League winner has been out of work since leaving Everton in January last year, but had recently been linked the vacant posts at Leicester and Crystal Palace earlier this season.
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