Napoli have made contact with the representatives of Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

Azzurri president Aurelio de Laurentiis has discussed signing the unsettled Dutchman with new coach Roberto Donadoni and sounded out the player's minders last week.

Donadoni is keen to make Van der Vaart aware that at Napoli he would be played in his favoured position - centrally behind the two strikers.