Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

Rafael Benitez 'very happy' at Napoli despite speculation over future

Rafael Benitez has said he is "very happy" at Napoli amid growing speculation this season will be his last at the Serie A club.

The former Valencia, Liverpool and Chelsea manager's contract is up for renewal in June and he has repeated his intention not to discuss a renewal until nearer the time.

That is not going to be before April, he told reporters in Naples on Wednesday, when it becomes that little bit clearer whether his second year at the club is set to be a success or not.

In the meantime, Benitez was quoted by France Football expressing his admiration of the French league and his willingness to try out a new league one day.

With Laurent Blanc's future as coach of Paris Saint-Germain looking uncertain -- at least before Wednesday night's Champions League win over Chelsea -- the Spaniard has  been touted as a potential replacement.

All of that is conjecture, however, with Benitez saying the rumours will not force him to commit on his future until he is ready.

"I will talk in April," he said at a news conference. "I gave the interview to France Football a month ago and I said the same things that I would repeat to you now. I'm very happy here. I don't have any offers right now and no particular interest. All I'm thinking about is doing well against Dinamo Moscow [in the Europa League] and then in the league.

"Before April comes around, I want to try to win quite a few more matches. We've got a team who play beautiful football and we've already won two titles. That's what the fans remind me every day when they ask me to stay."

Due to the uncertainty over Benitez's future, however, Napoli president Aurelio De Layurentiis is likely to be working on a plan B. That, according to the representative of Manuel Pellegrini, could be the Manchester City manager.

"Pellegrini has Italian roots, he's also been on holiday in Naples," he told Radio Crc. "He's a lover of language and culture. He greatly appreciates Italy and Neapolitan culture.

"You never know in football. Could he replace Benitez? Pellegrini does not allow me to talk about him in relation to a position at a club which already has a coach under contract."

Pellegrini's contract with City runs until 2016, but his future is also likely to become clearer next month should they fail to defend the Premier League title.

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