adminNapoli coach Rafa Benitez has announced he is leaving after two years with the Serie A club amid widespread expectation he is poised to replace the sacked Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.Spaniard Benitez, 55, who had a stint in Real’s youth set-up in the 1990s, made the announcement at a news conference yesterday with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
As the club had made clear on Wednesday, Benitez declined to answer questions about his future, saying he had taken the decision to leave after Sunday’s final Serie A match of the campaign at home toLazio “for family reasons”.
“I want to thank the president, the club and all the fans because after two years my experience here at Napoli is coming to an end,” Madrid-born Benitez said.
Spanish media have made the former Liverpool, Inter Milan and Chelsea coach the favourite to replace Ancelotti, who was fired by Real on Monday after a season without major silverware. Benitez has had mixed fortunes during his stint with Napoli and if he does join Real he will be taking on one of the most challenging coaching jobs in club soccer.
“On Sunday we’ve an extremely important match and I want to end my two years with a win,” Benitez said. “My focus is solely on the Lazio game.”
Meanwhile, AC Milan are bidding to lure back Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian club’s vice-president Adriano Galliani confirmed yesterday. “The deadline for a reply is Wednesday, June 3,” Galliani said — Reuters
Online Reporter