Napoli set to take legal action against their own players after row over training ground retreat

Carlo Ancelotti and his players reportedly refused to board a bus to a training retreat organised by chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis

Napoli are set to take legal action against their own players (Getty)

Napoli are set to take legal action against their own players after a row over a training retreat.

Carlo Ancelotti and his players reportedly refused to board a bus to the retreat, which was organised by club chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, after their draw with RB Salzburg.

Ancelotti skipped his post-match media duties, and the president of the club supposedly held an hour-long conference call with the manager after Wednesday morning’s training session.

Napoli have since released a statement, which reads: “The club announces that, with reference to the behaviour of the players yesterday, Tuesday November 5 2019, it will proceed to protect its rights on an economic, capital, image and disciplinary levels in every competent jurisdiction.

“It is also made clear that the responsibility to decide on ordering days in a training retreat lies with coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“A press silence has been ordered from now until a date yet to be decided.”

The veteran manager has previously suggested he was against any kind of training retreat, though the official statement of the club appears to say it was his idea.

Reports from Italy have indicated that Ancelotti is considering walking away from the club, or that Napoli could sack him.

He has been linked with a role at Boca Juniors by sections of the Italian press.