Mario Rui asks players’ union for help with Conte after Napoli freeze-out

Napoli left-back Mario Rui has reportedly requested assistance from the Italian players’ union, the Assocalcioatori, in getting out of his current situation in Naples, after being frozen out of the first-team group after the appointment of Antonio Conte.

Mario Rui wants to return to Conte’s first-team set-up at Napoli

Mario Rui has been out of the first-team set-up at Napoli since the summer. Following the arrival of Leonardo Spinazzola from Roma, and with Mathias Olivera ahead of him in the pecking order, the Portuguese full-back is not currently part of Conte’s plans.

He is, however, tied to the Partenopei for another two years of his contract, but remains frozen out of the first-team group at the club’s training ground.

Napoli had been prepared to let him go for a significantly reduced price, in order to clear his wages from their accounts, and to allow the 33-year-old to continue his playing career more consistently.

However, Mario Rui was not able to secure a move away from the Stadio Maradona, despite talks with clubs in more than six countries in multiple continents.

According to updates from TMW, there had been approaches or enquiries of varying levels from the likes of Besiktas, Galatasaray, OGC Nice, PAOK, Sao Paulo, Como in Serie A and a handful of clubs back in his native Portugal.

Now that the transfer windows are shut across Europe, Mario Rui remains frozen out at Roma and has now requested assistance from the players’ union in an attempt to be reintegrated in Conte’s first team group at Napoli.