AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli was on a list of candidates that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis considered to replace Luciano Spalletti.
This morning’s edition of Corriere dello Sport (via Calciomercato.com) talks about how Spalletti saw his ideal replacement as Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano, but De Laurentiis wants Paulo Sousa who is currently at Salernitana.
There was also a meeting between the two in Rome last Friday during which it was discovered that he has a €1m release clause but it is only valid until June 20. The Portuguese coach is admired for his ability to use the 4-3-3 formation, which the squad is already built around.
Rudi Garcia and Christophe Galtier are two other names, but De Laurentiis also had calls with Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique, Thiago Motta, Marcelino, Nagelsmann and even Stefano Pioli.
The Napoli president wanted to see if there was a possibility that Pioli might leave Milan after Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara’s sacking, but instead he has become an even more central figure.
