Rafael Benitez pessimistic over Marouane Fellaini deal

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez has admitted defeat in his bid to prise Marouane Fellaini from Manchester United this summer.

The Belgium international has been heavily linked with a switch to Naples this summer, after enduring a mixed first season at Old Trafford last year.

However, negotiations are understood to have broken down over Fellaini's £100,000-a-week wage demands, and Benitez admits that he is pessimistic over the deal materialising.

"We must continue to work with these players and see if we can improve what we have," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"Fellaini? He has a contract with Manchester United, so we're thinking about the players we have."

The 26-year-old's existing deal expires in 2018.