Napoli not interested in Balotelli - De Laurentiis

If Mario Balotelli does return to Serie A it will not be as a Napoli player, Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed.

Outspoken Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has rubbished rumours suggesting Mario Balotelli could be headed for Stadio San Paolo.

Balotelli, 27, is believed to be intent on leaving Nice after two seasons with the Ligue 1 side.

Negotiations over a potential move to Marseille have reportedly hit a standstill, keeping open the possibility of a return to Italy.

The striker's agent, Mino Raiola, has previously floated Napoli as a possible destination, arguing the Partenopei only had one better striker in Lorenzo Insigne.

De Laurentiis, though, claims he has long been against the idea of signing the former Liverpool and Manchester City player and is making no exceptions this transfer window.

"[Dries] Mertens will not leave, [Angel] Di Maria will not come and as for Balotelli I've been saying no for years. It's very false that he will come to Napoli," De Laurentiis said when quizzed by Radio Kiss Kiss .

Napoli's signings under new head coach Carlo Ancelotti include Simone Verdi from Bologna and Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Real Betis.

The club's Serie A campaign commences away to Lazio.