Rafa Benitez likens Napoli's transfer market frustrations to attempting to upgrade your wife for Claudia Schiffer
Former Liverpool manager makes a lighthearted joke about Napoli's summer
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
In a statement which editors across the land would consider a gift on a slow news day, Napoli head coach Rafa Benitez has compared his struggles in the transfer market to trying to upgrade your wife for German model Claudia Schiffer.
The Serie A side have already added Swansea City's Michu and French centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly to their ranks but the former Liverpool manager wants to secure signatures for Pepe Reina and Javier Mascherano also.
The locals in Naples were disappointed with a third-placed finish last season and Benitez is keen to improve his squad ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Putting a comical spin on the situation, stating that he is relatively happy with his current squad, he said: "Asking 'do we want to exchange our wife' is like asking 'do we want Mascherano?' We're in love with our wife, I mean, our players.
"Do we want to exchange our wife for Claudia Schiffer? It could be but it depends on your wife, are you happy with your wife? Lets wait for a response from the transfer market."
The 54-year-old's arrival in Italy last summer sparked a period of investment which saw Reina arrive on loan alongside Dries Mertens, Jose Callejon, Raul Albiol, Rafael Cabra, Gonzalo Higuain and Anthony Reveillere.
Benitez was speaking at an open forum for the club's supporters and, by the looks of it, his charm offensive worked a treat.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments