"I've closed the deal for a new manager but I can't officially announce it until I receive the go-ahead from the other club with which he is under contract until June 30," he was quoted as saying by Sky Italia.
"I saw a group of people that I've known for years in the hall of the hotel and I said to them: 'I've got myself a present'", added the film mogul, who was celebrating his 64th birthday on Friday.
"But I didn't give a name, I could have been talking about [Manuel] Pellegrini, Benitez, [Laurent] Blanc, [Jupp] Heynckes or anyone else. Unfortunately I can't tell you who it is as there are UEFA regulations."
Italian media reported that Di Laurentiis had named Benitez as the new Napoli manager, with Mediaset reporting him as saying "I've given myself a birthday gift, I've signed Benitez.
"I'll make it official in the next few days as Benitez needs to end things with Chelsea. He'll have a two-year contract, no longer. We need to get to know each other first, then we'll see."
