Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis appeared to rule out the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, insisting the club must start from scratch after Gennaro Gattuso replaced Carlo Ancelotti.
Ibrahimovic is a free agent after leaving MLS side LA Galaxy and the veteran striker has been linked with a return to Serie A via Napoli, former club Milan and Serie C outfit Monza.
Touted to re-join Milan, the arrival of ex-Rossoneri boss Gattuso in Naples has led to speculation Ibrahimovic could move to Napoli instead.
It comes after Napoli reportedly offered Ibrahimovic an 18-month contract before head coach Ancelotti was sacked following the club s Champions League victory on Tuesday.
Asked about Ibrahimovic, De Laurentiis told reporters: Zlatan is a great person with a strong character. We thought about Ibrahimovic when Ancelotti was in charge, as he would ve taken a certain role.
Now before thinking about him, I have other priorities, as this is a team that must play in a different system with a very high line and a defence that cannot allow what it allowed against Parma.
We must focus first and foremost on what we have in-house and then to reinforce the midfield. It s a pity all the work we had done for Ancelotti now has to be scrapped and we start again working for Gattuso s ideas. We start from scratch, but do not lack enthusiasm.
Napoli resume training ahead of Sassuolo trip
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli)
Gattuso s first match in charge did not go according to plan – Napoli stunned 2-1 by visiting Parma after conceding a 93rd-minute goal on Saturday.
The result left Napoli languishing in eighth in Serie A, 11 points outside the top four amid an eight-match winless streak in the league.
I am totally in sync with Gattuso, who is a great worker, De Laurentiis said. He did well at Milan and is the right profile for us, as was Carlo, who remains an extraordinary person.
Now we need a great deal of patience, nerves of steel and cool heads. I tell that above all to the fans. They want to win at all costs, but football has changed and it has become far more complex.
On Ancelotti, De Laurentiis added: I can only wish Ancelotti all the best. He is an extraordinary person and a great friend. Once we reach the end of the season, I ll look at everything and understand what went wrong or who was wrong. We will draw a definitive line.
