Serie A runners up Napoli are a step closer to naming Carlo Ancelotti as their new coach, after meeting the former AC Milan and Chelsea tactician on Tuesday.
The Partenopei are coming off the back of a record breaking season, in which they became the first team in the history of Serie A to earn more than 90 points and not win the Scudetto, but look increasingly likely to dispense with current coach Maurizio Sarri.
Ancelotti had been in Italy to take part in Andrea Pirlo’s testimonial in Milan on Monday, and travelled to Rome to meet with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis on Tuesday evening, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The former Real Madrid coach was also met by Napoli managing director Andrea Chiavelli, as well as De Laurentiis’ son Luigi, to thrash out a deal that would see him return to Italian football for the first time since leaving Milan in 2009.
It is believed that negotiations are gathering pace and the only obstacle is the length of the contract on the table. Whilst Napoli are ready to offer a two year deal worth €6.5 million per season, with the option of a third at a later date, Ancelotti is keen to commit to a three year contract.
The 58-year-old has been out of work since being dismissed by Bayern Munich in September. The former Roma midfielder has won domestic league titles as a coach with Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern.
Ancelotti has also lifted the Champions League twice with Milan and once with Real Madrid.
