Former Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci has backed Antonio Conte to make Napoli one of the main contenders in Serie A next season.
Conte returned to management after a 15-month absence by signing a three-year contract with the Partenopei last month.
Napoli won the Scudetto in 2022-23 with five games to spare after storming to the title, but followed that up by finishing 10th last season, outside the extended European places.
After Luciano Spalletti's departure in 2023, the club went through three head coaches last season, with both Rudi Garcia and Walter Mazzarri being fired before Francesco Calzona oversaw the last few months of their underwhelming title challenge.
Gianluigi Buffon believes Napoli will finish in the top two this season, and Bonucci agreed with his former Juventus team-mate that Conte will make all the difference.
"Napoli couldn't have made a better choice after the year they've had," Bonucci told Sky Italia.
"They've taken on a world-class coach; he teaches you everything about football and gives you the right knowledge.
"The squad is strong and full of quality. Being able to work with them all week, he [Conte] will do really well."
Conte's first competitive game in charge of Napoli will be their Coppa Italia tie against Modena on August 10.
Onana completes £50m Aston Villa transfer
Amadou Onana has completed a £50million move from Everton to Aston Villa.
The Belgium midfielder, who recently represented his nation at Euro 2024, becomes Villa's second-most expensive player in history after Moussa Diaby.
Onana arrives at Villa Park following a two-year spell at Everton, where he made 72 appearances under Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche.
The 22-year-old is Unai Emery's eighth major signing ahead of the 2024-25 season, as the Spaniard looks to bolster his squad ready to compete in the Champions League.
Ian Maatsen, Enzo Barrenechea, Samuel Iling-Junior and Lewis Dobbin have already moved to Villa in this window, while Ross Barkley, Cameron Archer and Jaden Philogene have also returned to the club.
Onana could make his Villa debut on August 17 when they travel to West Ham for their opening match of the new Premier League season.
Ten Hag wants to keep 'important' McTominay despite Man Utd exit links
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United do not want to sell Scott McTominay, despite speculation linking the midfielder with a move away from Old Trafford.
McTominay, who has been with United since the age of five, has been the subject of interest from Galatasaray and Fulham, with the latter seeing a bid of £17million rejected.
The Scotland midfielder enjoyed his most prolific season in 2023-24 with 10 goals, before appearing for his nation at Euro 2024.
And though the Red Devils are reportedly keen to offload players, Ten Hag hopes McTominay will not be one of them.
"We have very good players, so there will always be interest from other clubs," Ten Hag said.
"When you score 10 goals in a season and also perform very well for Scotland, then there will be interest. But we want to keep him because he is a very important player for our squad.
"What he can contribute, as we saw last season once we had our sixes available, he could play in a more advanced role, and he is a highly interesting player for our team."
Benzema: No team capable of being better than Real Madrid
Karim Benzema does not believe there is a team capable of being better than "best in the world" Real Madrid.
The Frenchman left Madrid in 2023 after 14 years in which he won 25 major trophies, including five Champions Leagues, five Club World Cups and four LaLiga titles.
He scored 354 goals for Los Blancos in 648 appearances before joining Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.
Following his departure, Madrid won LaLiga and lifted their 15th Champions League title last season, and Benzema backs them to follow that up without a challenge.
"A spectacular season, very good," Benzema told Marca. "Real Madrid is always the best team in the world.
"Players come and go, but Real Madrid will always be at the top, at the very top. It is the best and will continue to prove it.
"It's the best team in the world. It's always strong and fighting for everything. I stand there, look around and don't see any team that's capable of being better.
"They have everything. Players, coach and president."
Benzema's old shirt number has recently been filled following the signing of Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
He will slot into a team full of players being tipped to win the Ballon d'Or this year, with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior among the favourites.
Benzema, who won the prize in 2022, has tipped the Brazilian to lift the individual award after he finished as Madrid's top scorer in all competitions, netting 24 goals.
"I'm going to say Vini because he deserves it for his season and not just for what he's done this year, but also for what he's done last year, he was also above the rest with his football and what he does with the ball. He's a kid, a complete footballer," Benzema added.
"He can win a game on his own, of course, with the help of his teammates, but he is very good when Real Madrid needs him and that is why I think he deserves it.
"He is always there, and he always shows up. For all of that, my favourite is Vini."
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