Rafa Benitez in line to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid manager

The ex-Liverpool and Chelsea boss has been at Napoli since May 2013

Benitez could be in line to return to Spain as Real Madrid manager (Getty Images)

Rafa Benitez is in line to replace Carlo Ancelotti as the Real Madrid manager, according to reports.

Ancelotti led Real to Champions League glory last year, but is under intense pressure at the Bernabeu after finishing second in La Liga behind bitter rivals Barcelona and succumbing to a shock Champions League semi-final defeat to Juventus.

Club president Florentino Perez has earned a reputation for pulling the trigger on managers who have not achieved constant success at Real, and speaking on Sky Sports Jamie Carragher said there is 'no way' that the Italian will be at the helm next season.

Now, the Mail reports that the ex-Liverpool and Chelsea boss Benitez is being lined up as Ancelotti's surprise replacement.

Benitez won the La Liga title twice and the UEFA Cup during a successful spell with Valencia, and has a strong connection to the Bernabeu after spending seven years as a player at Real Madrid Castilla and two seasons managing Real Madrid B.

Since taking over at Napol in May 2013, Benitez has led the club to Coppa Italia glory and taken them to the semi-finals of this season's Europa League, where they lost to Athletic Bilbao. It is the Spaniard's second spell in Italy, after a disappointing six-month stint at Inter in 2010.