Sampdoria president Massimo Ferro says Rafa Benitez would need to ‘see a dietitian’ before he would appoint him.

The Serie A chief was reacting to reports that current coach Sinisa Mihajlovic will leave the club in the summer to replace Benitez at Napoli, once the former Chelsea and Liverpool manager’s contract expires.

"As far as I am concerned, he's staying. If he were to leave, I'd know who to replace him with,” Ferrero told Radio Crc. “Paulo Sousa's not going to be Sampdoria's next coach, it will be [Italian comedy actor] Lino Banfi."

"I could take Benitez, but I'd have to take him to see a dietitian first.”

"Anyway, if Mihajlovic does leave, I've already got a replacement. You all say he's leaving, even if I don't know anything about it.”

Benitez has been linked with a move back to the Premier League as a potential successor to under-fire Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, as well as a sensational return to Anfield.

Should he return, it would be his third spell in English football have previously managed both Liverpool and Chelsea.

The best Serie A players available to buy this summer 5 show all The best Serie A players available to buy this summer 1/5 Felipe Anderson - Lazio The best attacking player in Serie A in the second half of the season, Anderson has been watched by all the top clubs in Europe.



Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have all made checks on his performances for Lazio as he has helped guide them to second place in Serie A, which would mean automatic qualification for the Champions League.



Anderson recently signed a new deal at Lazio that would keep him at the club until 2020, but few can imagine him staying until then. The Rome club are likely to listen to offers of more than £35million. 2/5 Paulo Dybala - Palermo The 21-year-old Argentine looks set to leave Palermo this summer, even club president Maurizio Zamparini has confirmed as much.



The Serie A side have confirmed that Arsenal have made an offer for the striker, but the Gunners will also face competition from Manchester United, Juventus and Inter Milan.



Zamparini has said that Arsene Wenger’s side are Dybala’s ‘first choice’ should he move to England, but Palermo are holding out for €40 million, despite Transfermarkt’s valuation of £20.24 million. Getty 3/5 Nigel de Jong – AC Milan The former Manchester City star is another who’s contract is due to expire this summer.



Manchester United were registered to have had an interest in bringing the 30-year-old back to the Premier League last summer, such is the player’s relationship with boss Louis van Gaal, and De Jong would represent an attractive free transfer to many of England’s top flight clubs.



His current value, according to Transfermarkt, is £8.8 million. Getty 4/5 Roberto Soriano - Sampdoria Soriano is a dynamic midfielder who has broken into the Italy squad this season thanks to a series of performances that have lifted his club to within touching distance of European qualification next season.



Born in Germany, Soriano spent time in the Bayern Munich youth system before moving to his parents’ country and linking up with Sampdoria. Manchester City have already been linked with Soriano, who has made 23 appearances in Serie A this season. Presented with a £12million offer, Sampdoria would struggle to say no. 5/5 Paul Pogba – Juventus When Mino Raiola’s your agent, a transfer can never be ruled out.



Real Madrid, Chelsea, (and yes…) Manchester United are all keen on signing the Juventus star this summer, but the English sides were give added optimism last month when Raiola revealed that his client is not interested in a move to La Liga.



"Real Madrid are a club that is used to buying players like you buy a facecloth -- and then throws them away like a facecloth,” he said.



The France international is valued at £44 million, according to Transfermarkt. Getty 1/5 Felipe Anderson - Lazio The best attacking player in Serie A in the second half of the season, Anderson has been watched by all the top clubs in Europe.



Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have all made checks on his performances for Lazio as he has helped guide them to second place in Serie A, which would mean automatic qualification for the Champions League.



Anderson recently signed a new deal at Lazio that would keep him at the club until 2020, but few can imagine him staying until then. The Rome club are likely to listen to offers of more than £35million. 2/5 Paulo Dybala - Palermo The 21-year-old Argentine looks set to leave Palermo this summer, even club president Maurizio Zamparini has confirmed as much.



The Serie A side have confirmed that Arsenal have made an offer for the striker, but the Gunners will also face competition from Manchester United, Juventus and Inter Milan.



Zamparini has said that Arsene Wenger’s side are Dybala’s ‘first choice’ should he move to England, but Palermo are holding out for €40 million, despite Transfermarkt’s valuation of £20.24 million. Getty 3/5 Nigel de Jong – AC Milan The former Manchester City star is another who’s contract is due to expire this summer.



Manchester United were registered to have had an interest in bringing the 30-year-old back to the Premier League last summer, such is the player’s relationship with boss Louis van Gaal, and De Jong would represent an attractive free transfer to many of England’s top flight clubs.



His current value, according to Transfermarkt, is £8.8 million. Getty 4/5 Roberto Soriano - Sampdoria Soriano is a dynamic midfielder who has broken into the Italy squad this season thanks to a series of performances that have lifted his club to within touching distance of European qualification next season.



Born in Germany, Soriano spent time in the Bayern Munich youth system before moving to his parents’ country and linking up with Sampdoria. Manchester City have already been linked with Soriano, who has made 23 appearances in Serie A this season. Presented with a £12million offer, Sampdoria would struggle to say no. 5/5 Paul Pogba – Juventus When Mino Raiola’s your agent, a transfer can never be ruled out.



Real Madrid, Chelsea, (and yes…) Manchester United are all keen on signing the Juventus star this summer, but the English sides were give added optimism last month when Raiola revealed that his client is not interested in a move to La Liga.



"Real Madrid are a club that is used to buying players like you buy a facecloth -- and then throws them away like a facecloth,” he said.



The France international is valued at £44 million, according to Transfermarkt. Getty

Benitez famously won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, as well as leading the Reds to Super Cup and FA Cup successes the following season.

After a spell in Italy with Inter Milan, he returned to England to replace Roberto di Matteo at Chelsea on an interim basis until the end of the 2012-13 season. Despite his short spell at Stamford Bridge, the Spaniard guided the Blues to Europa League glory.