Carlo Ancelotti expects negotiations with Real Madrid to bring James Rodriguez to Napoli will take "a very long time".
Ancelotti, who worked with James, 28, at both Madrid and Bayern Munich, is keen to sign the Colombia international.
But Partenopei president Aurelio De Laurentiis has told Madrid they will have to lower their demands for the attacker, who is surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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De Laurentiis is confident a deal can be struck, however, having already claimed that the player wants to make the move to play under his old boss once more.