NAPOLI boss Luciano Spalletti could sensationally be replaced by Rafael Benitez despite winning the league, according to reports.
The 64-year-old has achieved legendary status after he ended the club’s 33-year wait to be crowned Serie A champions.
However, Spalletti’s contract expires next summer after Napoli recently triggered a 12-month extension.
He has been expected to ink new terms following the title triumph but La Gazzetto dello Sport are claiming that negotiations with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis have frozen.
And they also state that the pair are not even on speaking terms.
Now various reports say that contact has been made with Benitez over a potential return.
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It was widely-believed that Spalletti would be offered a new two-year contract worth £2.43m-a-year.
But after having dinner with De Laurentiis last week to discuss it, discussions have now allegedly stopped.
This latest report states that Spalletti expressed his anger over the potential sale of some of high-profile stars this summer.
Meanwhile, Benitez had a two-year spell in charge of Napoli in 2013.
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The ex-Liverpool boss guided them to Coppa Italia success before leaving for Real Madrid.
The Spaniard has been out of work since being sacked by Everton in January 2022.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk