Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis admits he tried to hire Luis Enrique.

De Laurentiis targeted Enrique, now in charge of PSG, after seeing title-winning coach Luciano Spalletti stepped down.

He told Il Corriere dello Sport: "My first call was to Thiago Motta, but he wasn't ready. The legacy of someone who won the scudetto that way is not easy, and Spalletti will have thought the same, leaving the city as a hero.

"I later called Luis Enrique: his people came to the city, I was waiting three days, he asked me for a lot of money. We were almost in agreement, but then he said no, because he wanted to win even more.

"Then (Julian) Nagelsmann arrived, and then (Rudi) García."

De Laurentiis added: "Making mistakes is normal, it can happen. In January we will sign a centre back, a right back and a midfielder, maybe two. (Eljif) Elmas is already sold, we are talking to (Piotr) Zielinski. (Victor) Osimhen? I said it and I repeat it: we are about to close the renovation."