Ancelotti: Icardi to Napoli? I've always had great strikers

Napoli head coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke about reported targets Mauro Icardi and James Rodriguez.

Mauro Icardi has been linked with a possible move to Napoli.

Carlo Ancelotti said he has always had great strikers as Napoli continues to be linked with Inter outcast Mauro Icardi.

Icardi — absent from Inter's pre-season tour — is not wanted by new head coach Antonio Conte as the Serie A club tries to sell its former captain. Napoli and Italian champion Juventus is reportedly vying for Icardi's signature ahead of the 2019-20 season.

Read | Ancelotti: Napoli still negotiating Rodriguez's transfer

Asked about Icardi as Napoli also tries to negotiate a deal with Real Madrid for James Rodriguez, Ancelotti told TV Luna following Wednesday's 3-3 draw against Cremonese: "A player in the James role can certainly help us in our finishing or in through balls for the strikers.

'Great centre-forward'

"I always had great centre-forwards in my career, from Pippo Inzaghi to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Icardi is a great centre-forward, as is Arkadiusz Milik. The Pole is perhaps a more complete player, even if the Argentine is a stronger finisher in the box.

@MrAncelotti reflects on #NapoliCremonese: "A slow-paced game because of the training loads but useful for trying out different tactics"
https://t.co/XwyBcBRjB8
#ForzaNapoliSemprepic.twitter.com/jJH2ZoLAQs

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) July 24, 2019

 

"Talking about Icardi now would be undermining Milik's qualities, but I am sure we'll all be happy with the squad at our disposal come August 31."

It has been a busy off-season for Napoli, which finished second behind Juve in the race for the Scudetto last term. Napoli has signed star defender Kostas Manolas from Roma and Fenerbahce's Eljif Elmas, while Amadou Diawara, Marko Rog and Raul Albiol have departed.