Empoli president Fabrizio Corsi admits Ismael Bennacer was close to joining Napoli.

Bennacer was sold by Empoli to AC Milan last year.

“I enjoy seeing our former players doing so well, such as Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the Italy squad, or Bennacer impressing at Milan," Corsi told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“(Napoli President Aurelio) De Laurentiis wanted to sign Bennacer and 20 days before the Empoli-Napoli game, he wanted to organise a meeting straight away.

“De Laurentiis had been utterly convinced he would get Bennacer, then someone dissuaded him."