Love is in the air for Benitez as he talks tactics, embraces Neapolitan culture and attempts to recreate the Maradona era

Spurs star won’t put his Real Madrid move at risk
The Spaniard is back in London for the Emirates Cup, a revitalised manager with a renewed sense of optimism
2 August 2013

“I took the Napoli job because of the enthusiasm and passion here, it all reminds me of my time at Liverpool,” said Rafael Benitez on his decision to sign a two-year deal with the Italian side.

It was a pointed comment given that the L-word was taboo during his stormy, if ultimately successful, six months with Chelsea.

Succeeding the popular Roberto di Matteo as manager, Benitez’s association with the Reds and his dig at the Blues in 2007 — “we don’t need to give away flags for our fans to wave, our supporters are always there with their hearts” — meant he was the villain of the piece.

Now the Spaniard is back in London for the Emirates Cup, a revitalised manager with a renewed sense of optimism.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis single-handedly saved his hometown club from extinction in 2004 after they were declared bankrupt with debts close to £70million. He is now bidding to bring back the glory days of the Diego Maradona era of the late 1980s and has given Benitez the job of spearheading the project.

Irrespective of an ineffective six months in Serie A with Inter Milan in 2010, the Madrid native has been unanimously greeted with affection by Napoli’s fans.

The surprise resignation of popular manager Walter Mazzarri at the end of last season left movie mogul De Laurentiis in need of a notable recruit to take the team to the next level. Mazzarri led the club back to the Champions League for the first time in 21 years in 2011 and triumphed in the Coppa Italia against Juventus during four years at the helm.

The consensus in Italy is that Benitez (left) remains an astute tactician with vast international experience and is capable of delivering silverware.

“In 20 minutes here I have been asked more tactical questions then in an entire year in England,” laughed Benitez at the team’s pre‑season training camp. He has already won admirers locally for actively embracing the community, whether it be sampling Neapolitan cuisine or visiting the city’s Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace).

After revealing Napoli had in the region of £110m to splash in the transfer market this summer, De Laurentiis and director of sport Riccardo Bigon have orchestrated the marquee signings of Gonzalo Higuain, Jose Callejon and Raul Albiol from Real Madrid plus a host of other arrivals including Dries Mertens and Pepe Reina.

“We are targeting players with a few years of experience to hit the ground running at the very beginning of the new campaign,” said Benitez.

The overwhelming enthusiasm from Napoli’s dedicated support base was evident as more than 60,000 tickets were sold for their elaborate presentation of the new acquisitions for the 2013-14 campaign at the San Paolo, which was followed by a friendly against fellow Emirates Cup contenders Galatasaray on Monday.

Higuain will line up against Arsenal tomorrow at the Emirates just weeks after he agreed personal terms with the Gunners. Two hundred people gathered at Rome’s Fiumicino airport to welcome him last week. “True Argentines play in Naples,” read a banner at the squad’s training camp. The tagline referred directly to Maradona but also commenced a war of words with Juve faithful surrounding their new signing Carlos Tevez.

In strikingly similar fashion to Higuain, Napoli’s new No1 Reina may have also had his heart set on an alternative destination, in the form of Barcelona. Yet when they did not make a move for him, Liverpool shifted the 30-year-old out on loan.

The bulk of the £53m Napoli received from Paris Saint-Germain for Edinson Cavani has been spent but the shopping is far from over. Jackson Martinez’s agent ManueI Manso admits terms have been agreed but a deal has yet to be struck with Porto for the prolific striker. Meanwhile, outlandish bids have been made for several stars including Marco Verratti.

Benitez’s return to London will coincide with the first time we truly see his new Napoli side come together as all the summer signings are set to feature.

Whether the new adventure is prosperous or not remains to be seen but at the very least he can count on substantial support from the outset.

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