Sampdoria abandon Rafael Benitez bid

Sampdoria have ended their bid to appoint Rafael Benitez as manager after negotiations between the two parties broke down.

The Serie A side recently held talks with the former Liverpool boss in London, but it has now been confirmed that they ended "with mutual regret".

A statement on the club's website read: "Following discussions held recently in London and subsequent contacts between UC Sampdoria and Mr Rafael Benitez, with mutual regret, the club and the Spanish manager agreed that the time for collaboration was not right."

Benitez has been out of work since parting company with Inter Milan in late 2010, but was seen by Sampdoria owner Riccardo Garrone as a potential candidate to help the club retain its former glory.

Sampdoria won promotion back into to the Italian top flight via the Serie B playoffs last month.

Current head coach Giuseppe Iachini, who joined the club from Genoa last November, still has one year remaining on his contract.