Roberto Mancini has rubbished reports linking him to Naopli, asking the press to give Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni a break.

Speculation in Italy suggest that the former Inter Milan coach is set to take over the reins, should the current incumbent be sacked.

"Napoli already have a coach. I believe it's right to leave him to work," Mancini told Il Corriere dello Sport.

The former Sampdoria skipper preferred to speak about the meteoric rise of the Blucerchiati, with whom he won a Scudetto with Gianluca Vialli as his running-mate.

Mancini is convinced that the current side is similar to the Samp side that won the 1990-91 Serie A title, especially upfront with Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Cassano.

"They were different situations but sometimes things repeat themselves over the course of time..." he explained.