Newcastle target Pepe Reina is expected to remain a Napoli player beyond the summer – despite only having one year remaining on his current contract.
The Gli Azzurri president Aurelio De Laurentiis delivered a blow to the Magpie’s chances of signing the Spaniard by saying that he expects Reina to see out the final year of his deal.
Speaking to La Repubblica, he said: “He has another year on his contract and wants to stay with us, even up to expiration”.
The goalkeeper has held discussions with the Italian club over the prospect of a new deal.
Although, with an agreement still yet to be finalised Rafa Benitez has attempted to persuade Reina to return to the Premier League.
The 34-year-old has previously twice played under Benitez’s stewardship at both Liverpool and Napoli respectively.
And the Magpies boss has been monitoring Reina’s situation in Italy closely.
The former Real Madrid manager signed Reina for Liverpool in 2005 and he eventually spent nine years at the club.
In two spells with Napoli, Reina has played 135 times in all competitions for the Italian side, and won the Coppa Italia in his first season there in the 2013/14 season.
In addition to that, he has won the Bundesliga title in his only campaign at Bayern, the FA Cup and League Cup with the Reds, and two European Championships with Spain in 2008 and 2012.