18.05.2015 22:07 h

Montella places doubt over Fiorentina future

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella revealed he could leave the club in the summer if negotiations with owner and president Andrea Della Valle over its future direction do not bear fruit.

Beaten semi-finalists Fiorentina took a major step towards a place in next season's Europa League with a 3-0 rout of relegated Parma to reclaim fifth spot in Italy's Serie A on Monday.

But Montella, who has been linked with several clubs in Italy's top flight including struggling AC Milan, hinted he could be tempted away from the Artemio Franchi stadium.

"I want us to finish in fifth place and finish off the journey we took together three years ago, the lads deserve it," Montella told Sky Sport after his side's 3-0 rout of relegated Parma.

"Then, the president and I will sit down and find out if we have the right things in place to continue together."

Montella's men were ousted from the Europa League 5-0 on aggregate last week by former champions Sevilla.

But La Viola have their sights firmly fixed on another tilt at Europe's second tier club competition next season after goals from Gonzalo Rodriguez, Alberto Gilardino and Mohamed Salah helped the Florence-based side reclaim fifth place from Genoa.

Fiorentina sit 23 points behind champions Juventus, who face Lazio in the Italian Cup final on Wednesday and then play Barcelona in the Champions League final in Berlin on June 6.

But Montella's men are now four clear of seventh-placed Sampdoria with two games remaining.

Genoa, 4-1 winners at Atalanta on Sunday, dropped one place to sixth two points adrift of Fiorentina to remain in contention for a place in the Europa League.

Their city rivals Sampdoria, one of several teams hoping to squeeze into Europe next season, are two points further behind with Inter Milan and Torino two and three points adrift of Samp respectively.

Napoli, fourth at five points behind Lazio in the final Champions League qualifying spot, host Cesena in Monday's late game.