Donadoni closing in on Napoli exit: press

Former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni’s time at Napoli could soon be up, according to the Italian press on Monday.

Napoli lie 15th in the 20-team Serie A after seven matches having lost all four of their away games, including Sunday’s 2-1 reverse at AS Roma.

Donadoni only took over in March, nine months after he was fired from the Italy job when his team were knocked out of the European Championship quarter-finals on penalties by eventual winners Spain.

And now his future in Naples appears to be heading for a similar ending after Italian press reported that Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis was due to meet with former Sampdoria coach Walter Mazzarri on Monday afternoon.

De Laurentiis had as good as suggested following the Roma defeat that Donadoni’s time was up.

“Donadoni has been a great experience just as (his predecessor Edy) Reja was, because he is someone polite and prepared,” said De Laurentiis.

“But there are coaches who are right for certain teams and others made to compete for the top four places and I want my team to compete with the top three.

“The problem is not Donadoni but De Laurentiis who still has a great desire for Napoli to compete with the top three. Hence, it’s not important if Donadoni stays or not.”

Napoli have won only four out of 18 league games since Donadoni took over in March.

Donadoni was a surprise selection for Italy coach when Marcello Lippi stepped down from the job following their World Cup victory in 2006.

Donadoni’s previous managerial experienced had been with Lecce, Livorno and three games with Genoa.