Napoli president, Benitez to address manager's future in joint press conference Thursday

As if the rumor mill wasn't already in overdrive.

Napoli has announced that president Aurelio De Laurentiis and manager Rafa Benitez will hold a joint press conference on Thursday during which it is expected the bench boss will reveal his intention to leave the club and join Real Madrid.

Benitez, a 55-year-old native of Madrid, has been the prevailing name linked with his hometown club's managerial job - even before Carlo Ancelotti was fired on Monday.

Barring some unforeseen announcement on Thursday, the path will be cleared for the Spaniard to replace Ancelotti heading into next season.

When there's this much smoke, fire is typically not too far away.