Napoli’s Mario Rui eyeing return to Portugal: Talks with three clubs underway

As Napoli gear up for a busy transfer market, significant changes to the squad are expected, with several players set to join and leave the club. Among those potentially departing is Mario Rui, who seems to be on the verge of returning to his homeland, with a number of sides interested.

The Portuguese left-back does not fit into the plans of new Napoli manager Antonio Conte, a fact recently confirmed by Rui’s agent. TMW report that as a result, there is an urgent need to find a new club for him in the upcoming transfer window. According to today’s edition of Corriere del Mezzogiorno, discussions have already begun with Portugal’s top three clubs: Benfica, Porto, and Sporting Lisbon.

A couple of weeks ago, Mario Rui’s agent, Mario Giuffredi, shed light on the situation:

“Contracts only mean so much. If contracts were absolute, I’d say Mario Rui has two more years on his contract, and Napoli asked me to find him a new club. So, I could say, ‘No, Mario Rui stays here for two more years.’ But contracts are made, and then there are dynamics that lead you to other paths. Signing a contract doesn’t mean a life sentence; it means making a commitment, one that can go in different directions. One thing I’ve learned in football is never to keep players against their will. Last year was a perfect example of my philosophy.”