NAPOLI boss Luciano Spalletti says he wouldn’t say no to managing Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo – but insists there’s been no contact over a potential swap with Victor Osimhen.
Ronaldo, 37, is keen to leave Man Utd this summer after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League last season.
The Red Devils finished sixth, meaning they had to settle for Europa League football.
On a personal level, Ronaldo showed he can still cut it at the top level – netting 24 times across all competitions last term.
However, despite agent Jorge Mendes discussing a move with a number of top clubs, a deal for Ronaldo is yet to be made.
Reports suggested a return to Italy was on the cards after Napoli contacted by Mendes.
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Gianluca DiMarzio claimed Napoli would take the five-time Ballon d’Or winner – but only if United buy Nigeria international Osimhen from them for £85million.
However, Napoli boss Spalletti says “no negotiations” have taken place on a sale of Osimhen to United, which would then allow Ronaldo in turn to seal a transfer to Naples.
Spalletti also says “no coach would say no” to Ronaldo.
Speaking at a press conference, Spalletti said: “If you’re asking me if I’d like to work with Ronaldo, I tell you no coach would say no to that.
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“However, if we go into those areas the journalists like to fill in for themselves, then as Osimhen’s agent said, there are no negotiations.
“Speaking to (President Aurelio) De Laurentiis, he told me that he received no offer, so let’s remain as realistic as possible here and take into consideration only things that could happen.
“There are only a few days left in the transfer window, it seems unlikely that could go through. There is nothing concrete at the moment.”
Spalletti says a potential deal for Osimhen to United would be separate to one for Ronaldo to go the other way.
The Italian says with Osimhen, due to his talent, will always have big clubs like Man Utd tracking him.
Spalletti continued: “It wouldn’t be a swap, it would be two different signings, in that case. One of the two can turn a game by himself.
“But in any case, at the moment we should not consider things that won’t help us pick up three points in Florence.
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“Osimhen is the one who has to be the protagonist there.
“With a player like Osimhen, who is so talented, we know there is the permanent risk that some rich owner around the world will wake up in the morning and decide to buy him and that includes a club like Manchester United.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
