Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has laughed off the suggestion Rafael Benitez could be at the club next season, joking that he would have to "see a dietician first."
Ferrero may have to find a new coach in the summer with the future of Sinisa Mihajlovic increasingly uncertain.
The Serbian is being tipped to replace Benitez at Napoli, and Ferrero sees no reason why the Spaniard could not move in the opposite direction.
"I could take Benitez, but I'd have to take him to see a dietician first," Ferrero told Radio Crc. "Anyway, if Mihajlovic does leave, I've already got a replacement. You all say he's leaving, even if I don't know anything about it.
"As far as I am concerned, he's staying. If he were to leave, I'd know who to replace him with. Paulo Sousa's not going to be Sampdoria's next coach, it will be [Italian comedy actor] Lino Banfi."
Ferrero would still prefer to keep hold of Mihajlovic, who took over when the side were on the brink of relegation and is on course to lead them into Europe just 18 months later.
"Napoli would not be taking a step backwards if they were to get Mihajlovic," Ferrero said. "I'm talking from my experience and I can say that Sinisa's a man of great sensitivity, a great professional and a great worker.
"He arrives two hours before training and he leaves two hours after. Above everything, he's got incredible ability and if he does leave, then I'm sure whoever gets him will be hitting the jackpot. But they're going to have to wait another year because he's still got a year on his contract with us."
Sampdoria visit Napoli on Sunday and Ferrero admits he is looking forward to the trip, even if he says he may have to upset a few people.
"If I'm helped out by Saint Luck, then the Neapolitans are going to be angry with me," he said. "The Napoli fans are the ones I love the most because they are passionate and all great lads. I'm going to fly down on Saturday and take a walk around Naples, because if we win I won't be able to do that on Monday."
The Blucerchiati trail Benitez's Napoli by three points with both sides chasing Lazio and Roma for a place in the Champions League next season.
Sampdoria's priority, however, is to ensure the gap to seventh place and city rivals Genoa -- currently six points -- does not reduce, enabling them to return to Europe next season.