Napoli manager Benitez on potential Fellaini deal: 'It's all down to United, not us'

Napoli manager Rafa Benitez acknowledges that his club is interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini, but admits that a potential deal hinges on the Red Devils' desire to keep hold of the player.

United manager Louis van Gaal recently said that every player on his squad will learn their status shortly, and speculation has run rampant that the Belgian midfielder will be informed that he is surplus to requirements at the club.

If that's indeed the case, the message has yet to be passed along to Napoli.

"It's hard not to talk about the transfer market - names keep cropping up constantly. For Fellaini, it's all down to United, not us," Benitez told Italian media, via ESPN FC.

"In midfield, we're looking for a player with the right winning mentality. If Fellaini arrives immediately then there won't be any problem getting him used to our system.... I have to draw up my list of players for the Champions League so we don't have much time. He's not been playing for United so we've just got to wait and be respectful.

"We'll wait until they get back to Europe and then maybe you journalists can change your headlines."

Fellaini endured a terrible first season at Old Trafford following his move from Everton last September, a let down magnified by his £27.5-million transfer fee.

A change of scenery would probably serve him well.