Udinese patron Giampaolo Pozzo is confident that boss Francesco Guidolin, Antonio Di Natale and Luis Muriel will all still be at the club next season.
Udinese patron Giampaolo Pozzo is confident that boss Francesco Guidolin, Antonio Di Natale and Luis Muriel will all still be at the club next season.
Guidolin and Muriel have been linked with moves away from the Stadio Friuli, while the club captain has threatened to retire.
“Guidolin, for me, is the best Coach in Italy,” Pozzo stated. “I’m sure that he will stay with us. He has received a number of offers, but he is a man of his word.”
Moving on to 35-year-old Di Natale, who scored 23 goals in 33 League games this season, Pozzo insisted there was more to come from the Italian.
“I think Toto can play for another two or three years. He’s still in good shape and hasn’t had any serious injuries.
“Every year he says that he wants to retire, but that is just the tiredness talking. He has no real intention of retiring.
“Muriel? He has only just arrived at the club. Staying here would only do him good and, for that reason, I believe he will remain.”
Pozzo wasn’t so sure when asked about the future of defender Mehdi Benatia. “A lot of the present squad will remain, but he could go.
“It is a couple of years now that he has wanted to join a big club and when there is not a desire to stay then it is always best to make that player happy.”
Udinese, after winning their last eight League games, finished the Serie A campaign in fifth with a 5-2 win at Inter.