Benitez needs to lose weight before he can coach my team- says Ferrero

Hehe, funny sha! Sampdoria owner Massimo Ferrero says Rafael Benitez would have to lose some weight before he would be allowed to coach his team.

The Napoli boss is rumoured to be set to depart the Serie A side at the end of the season after stalling contract talks with the club.


And the eccentric Samp owner admits he would consider hiring the Spaniard if Sinisa Mihajlovic were to leave after this campaign, but warned he'd have to shed some pounds first.

"I could take Benitez, but I'd have to take him to see a dietician first," he told Radio Crc. "If Mihajlovic does leave, I've already got a replacement. The media say he's leaving, but I don't know anything about it.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's staying. If he were to leave, I'd know who to replace him with. Basel boss Paulo Sousa is not going to be Sampdoria's next coach, it will be comedy actor Lino Banfi."

Mihajlovic is one coach linked to the Napoli job should it become vacant this year and Ferrero admits it would be a good move for the Partenopei.

"Napoli would not be taking a step backwards if they were to get Mihajlovic. I'm talking from my experience and I can say that Sinisa is 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."