Aurelio De Laurentiis, the embattled president and owner of Napoli, has received a €560 million (US$617 million) offer to buy the club from the wealthy Qatari Al-Thani family, according to widespread reports, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

The offer from the ruling Qatari family comes with De Laurentiis dealing with supporter protests and player strikes after a series of internal struggles,

Whilst the reports do not identify which member of the Al-Thani family wants to buy the Serie A club, the purchase would add to a soccer portfolio including French giants Paris Saint-Germain, which is controlled through Qatar Sports Investments (QSI). QSI has also been linked with an investment in English second-tier soccer club Leeds.

De Laurentiis purchased Napoli in 2004 after they fell into bankruptcy and restored their fortunes, guiding them back from Serie C to Serie A and into the Uefa Champions League.

The film producer has come under fire of late for not investing more in the club's playing staff, while his authority was undermined when the Napoli players refused to go on a training retreat that he had organised, with the owner also threatening to fine the squad 25 per cent of their wages.