Rafael Benitez unveiled as Napoli Manager

Rafael Benitez wrote:Rafa Benitez has insisted he is 'very happy' to have been handed the Napoli job and wants the team to 'continue to grow'.

The Spanish tactician was brought in to replace Walter Mazzarri last month, but at his official unveiling today the former Inter man has made his intentions for the upcoming season clear.

“We want to build a stronger team here,” he told a Press conference. “And we want to do well in all three competitions.

“For me, all the players are important. [Marek] Hamsik is important, as is [Lorenzo] Insigne. I think the Slovakian can make the difference.

“I have spoken with Cavani, we have text each other. But I have not talked about his future. We remain hopeful [that he will stay].

“Serie A, as well as other Leagues, have to deal with financial fair play, but Napoli are respecting the parameters and are doing well as a result."

“Italian football is a good place – the national team shows how well the championship is doing as I love watching the Azzuri”

Benitez was then quizzed on whether he could have joined Real Madrid this summer.

“I am very happy to be here – this is a team, and a city that I love already, with a big passion," he added.

“I could have gone to Real Madrid when I was at Liverpool, but I gave my word to Liverpool.

“There's not much to explain really.

“You go where you are wanted, and that is what happened here.

“Feeling well-liked is certainly a big plus.

“I will give everything to this team and this club.

“The President told me from day one that we have to do well on all fronts, but the important thing is to grow as a team.

“We are ambitious, but we know we can build something even stronger. Hopefully with my contribution we can do that.

“We just want to build a squad that can not only do well this year, but also in the future.

“And to do that we have to all work together, and at 100 per cent.”

Natalie Portman wrote:Already signed Mertens, and is pushing hard for Strootman as well

EL Patron wrote:Will be sacked by Christmas

Natalie Portman wrote:Mohamed Moallim ‏@jouracule 6h
Dries Mertens agrees to a five-year deal with Napoli; medical tomorrow, fee yet to be reached with PSV (though expected to be €9.5M). [vi]

RedOranje wrote:Until it's officially announced it shouldn't be considered done.  You can pull out 5, YES 5, whole internet sources and I'll still say the exact same thing... maybe because, you know, history tends to support waiting until something is officially announced before calling it "official." (funny how similar those two are...)

RedOranje wrote:"...it appears that he is on the verge of signing for the Italian side."

"Soren Lerby said: 'Napoli and PSV almost reached an agreement. And Dries agreed on 99% of a five-year deal.'"

If you'll notice, that's stating that he's not actually agreed a deal or signed yet, just that he's damned close.  And close only counts with horse-shoes and hand-grenades.

McAgger wrote: Finally at a club whose fans will truly appreciate and love him since he's left us

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

McAgger wrote: Finally at a club whose fans will truly appreciate and love him since he's left us

Inb4 his car gets set on fire.

Natalie Portman wrote:Naples is actually a very dangerous city from the sayings of Liverpool fans who travelled there 2 years ago. They were hit, and some were stabbed by Napoli supporters before the game. There was a lot of tension, that when Gerrard scored our winning goal at Anfield he went over them showing the "Shhhh" sign.