Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis admits he's approached Juventus coach Max Allegri in the past.

Napoli meet Juventus on Sunday needing a win to keep the title race alive.

“When I called Allegri, he was still under contract. By the time he managed to clear himself, I had already shaken hands with Rafa Benitez," ADL told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper.

“I tip my hat to him for all the trophies he has won and his ability to always remain in charge of various situations."

As of this season, the Partenopei have Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, appreciated for success all over Europe.

“I don't know if there's much in common between them. We have more fun with Ancelotti, whereas it seems to me Allegri is obsessed with results.

“It'd be the greatest gift for me if Ancelotti were to stay at Napoli for life. So far, he hasn't even pushed me to sign star names of a certain age. We brought in quality players: some already fully-formed, others discovered and launched by us on to the international stage."