The Spaniard’s spell as Chelsea interim boss came to an end this month after guiding the west Londoners to a third-place finish in the Premier League and the Europa League crown.

The 53-year-old takes over in Naples from Walter Mazzarri, who has been appointed as Inter Milan’s new head coach on a two-year deal.

“I am very happy and very satisfied for having committed to a great club with an illustrious heritage like Napoli,” said Benítez, who had been touted as a potential replacement for David Moyes at Everton.

“I understand the history of the city and how the club forms a fundamental part of the culture and traditions of Naples.

“I must confess that I am extremely excited because I can share my passion for football with the fans of Napoli; it is proven that they are very, very special.

“I look forward to experiencing each and every one of the fans of Napoli and their strong support for this project that we will begin.”

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis first made the appointment public on Twitter.

“Rafa Benítez is the new coach of Napoli,” he tweeted. “A man of great international experience. A leader.”

Much has been made about the rise of the Bundesliga in recent months after Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich both booked their places in the first-ever all-German Champions League final at Wembley.

The top flights in Spain, Italy and France have also been growing in stature over the last few years – but Arsenal manager Wenger still believes English football is the most entertaining.

Asked which league he would watch if given the chance to see a game from all five of the top European leagues, Wenger told Arsenal’s Official Magazine: “Honestly, the Premier League match without any hesitation, and that would be the same even if I weren’t working in England.

“Earlier this season, we were travelling back from the West Brom game, and the Real Madrid game was on the television against Levante. On the other side you had Watford against Cardiff.

“We had the Real Madrid game on on the coach, because it’s a top-level game, but the game was so easy for Real that after a while you move over to Watford v Cardiff because of the passion in the game and the competitiveness.”

He added: “So you do not only watch football for the technical quality of the games, but also because of the intensity, the uncertainty and the passion that’s in it.”

The Gunners have been linked with a £24.5m bid for the highly-rated 23-year-old Montenegro forward in recent weeks but Prade insists that he has had no contact from the north Londoners.

“The way I see it, this interest [in Jovetic] is non-existent,” Prade told Rai Sport.

“I have not had any contact with them at all. I don’t think Arsène Wenger is interested in the boy.”

Prade’s comments come after the Serie A club’s president Andrea Della Valle stressed that they would not be selling the striker on the cheap.

“Jovetic must understand his future, make the right choice,” said Della Valle. “The important thing is that, if he does leave, we compensate for his sale by bringing in suitable replacements.”

Jovetic has scored 13 goals and made five assists in 31 Serie A appearances for Fiorentina this season.

Our resident betting expert based on the continent is tipping over 1.5 goals in the first half at Camp Nou, while his long shot is Thiago Alcântara to score first.

Elsewhere, he’s backing Real Madrid to beat Real Betis in a high-scoring game, and on Sunday night, he’s tipping Juventus to beat AC Milan by a single goal.

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Fàbregas to score any time for Barcelona v Levante – 8/11

Barcelona are expected to rest talisman Lionel Messi ahead of their midweek clash against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals. As a result, Fàbregas should retain his place in the Catalan side’s starting line-up. The Spain international scored a hat-trick in Barcelona’s last home game against Mallorca, taking his tally to nine goals for the season. The former Arsenal captain has scored three goals in his last three appearances against Levante, so El Tipstro’s opening bet here is Fàbregas to score any time at 8/11.

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Over 1.5 first-half goals in Barça v Levante – 11/10

Not many can resist Barcelona’s tika-taka style, and the Catalan side have burst out of the starting blocks in most games this season. El Tipstro thinks there’s great value in Barcelona to score some early goals in this fixture. Barcelona have been leading 2-0 at half-time in three of their last four La Liga games. So, El Tipstro reckons over 1.5 first-half goals is well worth a punt at 11/10.

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Over 3.5 goals and Madrid to win v Betis – 5/4

Real Betis have been nothing more than whipping boys at the Bernabéu in recent seasons – and El Tipstro sees a similar outcome on Saturday. Madrid have won this fixture 6-1 and 4-1 in the past two years and there have been over 2.5 goals in six of Betis’s last seven La Liga games. The signs are ominous for the visitors, with Madrid undefeated in 12 games against Betis in all competitions. El Tipstro is backing over 3.5 goals and Madrid to beat Betis at 5/4.

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Juventus to beat AC Milan by a single goal – 13/5

AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli at the San Siro last weekend, effectively ending the Serie A title race. The Turin outfit are 11 points clear of the Naples outfit and can deliver a crushing blow to Milan’s second-place hopes with a win. Juventus have won three of the last five meetings between these sides – two of those victories by a one-goal margin. Milan will be without main goal threat Mario Balotelli on Sunday night, too. So El Tipstro is backing Juve to win by a single goal at 13/5.

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The long shot: Thiago to score first & Barcelona to win – 9/1

Barcelona’s next big star Thiago Alcântara scored Barcelona’s first goal in a 3-0 victory over struggling Real Zaragoza last weekend. It was the 22-year-old’s second goal this season and he should start against Levante, with Tito Vilanova expected to rest Xavi Hernandez ahead of the Bayern clash. El Tipstro’s ambitious long shot this week is Thiago to score first and the La Liga leaders to win at 9/1.

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The Uruguay international has been heavily linked with a move to the English top flight at the end of the season, with Chelsea and Manchester City both interested in the forward.

Cavani has continued his prolific performances for the Naples outfit this season, scoring 22 goals in 27 Serie A appearances, after penning a new contract in August.

And Cavani’s agent Claudio Anellucci insists the South American striker has never spoken of his desire to quit Napoli despite interest from the English top flight.

“Edinson never told me he had any intention of leaving Napoli,” he told Rai Sport. “It’s great thinking there is so much interest in him because it means he is doing well.”

Cavani penned a new five-year deal – which reportedly contains a £48m contract release clause – with Napoli last summer.

And Anellucci believes that figure accurately reflects the value of Napoli’s clinical finisher, who has scored 97 goals since moving to Stadio San Paolo from Palermo in 2010.

“I also think this might be the correct fee for the player,” added Anellucci. “It’s a bit early to talk about this though.

“But it’s also normal that a player like Cavani wants to win and then ask the club what their plans are for the future.”

Pablo Osvaldo is unlikely to leave Roma in the summer despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur, according to the striker’s former agent.

The Italy international, who was born in Buenos Aires, has scored 12 goals in 18 appearances in all competitions this season, including strikes against AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus.

Tottenham manager André Villas-Boas has made no secret of his desire to sign a striker after missing out on Leandro Damiao in January.

But Osvaldo’s former agent Dario Decoud doubts the forward will leave the Rome outfit in the summer, with the 27-year-old keen to work with manager Aurelio Andreazzoli.

“Osvaldo is very focused and wants to finish this season well,” Decoud told Sport Mediaset.

“Pablo wants to repay the faith shown in him by [Coach Auerlio] Andreazzoli.

“I know for certainty that Roma consider him a key player and virtually non-transferable.”

Osvaldo has scored 23 goals in 44 appearances for Roma after completing a €17.5m (£14.9m) move to the three-time Serie A winners from Espanyol in 2011.

Edinson Cavani could end up staying at Napoli beyond the summer despite reported interest from Chelsea and Manchester City, according to the striker’s representative.

The 26-year-old Uruguay international has become one of the most sought-after players in Europe after netting a staggering 69 goals in 96 Serie A appearances for Napoli since joining the club from Palermo in 2010.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis earlier this week said that the Italian club would be willing to part company with the prolific forward for a “crazy” transfer fee.

But Cavani’s representative Gennaro Famiglietti has suggested that his client would be more than happy to stay at Napoli next season despite talk of a big-money move to the Premier League.

He told Italian radio station Kiss Kiss: “Cavani loves the club and the city. We have already said that he is ready to stay if the squad can become stronger and new signings can arrive.

“Few clubs can pay the price for Cavani and this will determine his future. There is no agreement with anybody. The player is ambitious and wants to win titles with Napoli.”

And De Laurentiis said on Monday: “Cavani knows that in Napoli he is loved and well respected. Living in our city is an act of faith and awareness.

“But if we received a crazy €70m offer, which would mean a €63m net for our club, we would listen to it – although the final decision is up to the player.”

Inter Milan striker Antonio Cassano has managed to convince his wife to name their second child after Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

The Italy international’s spouse gave birth to a baby boy on Monday night and Cassano decided to pay homage to the Argentina international, who is regarded as one of the best-ever footballers.

“I named my second son Lionel because of the best player in the world – Messi,” Cassano, who previously played for Barca’s arch rivals Real Madrid, told Italian TV show Undici.

“Lionel was born, he’s my Messi. I’ve given this as homage to the greatest player of all time. I named my son after Messi because I love him, on a football side.

“My wife didn’t want that name, but then I convinced her.”

Lionel Cassano was born at 2010 local time on Monday night and weighed in at 3.3kg.

Barcelona welcome AC Milan to the Camp Nou on Tuesday hoping that their home form will see them through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Barcelona have not lost a European tie at the Camp Nou for more than three years and beat Milan in last season’s quarter-finals and in the 2005-06 semi-finals.

This time, however, the Italian side travel to Spain defending a 2-0 lead after first-leg goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari at San Siro.

Teams have recovered from losing the first leg to go through in 28 Champions League ties, although in only four did the victorious side overturn a deficit of more than one goal. No side has ever salvaged a two-goal first-leg defeat without the benefit of an away goal.

Milan themselves hold the unenviable record for the biggest first-leg victory overturned in the Champions League era, losing 4-0 at Deportivo La Coruña in the 2003-04 quarter-finals having won 4-1 at home

These two famous names have now met 16 times, Barcelona recording six wins to Milan’s five and scoring 22 goals to the Italian side’s 21. Barcelona’s record at home against the Rossoneri reads W3 D3 L1.

In last season’s quarter-final, Milan and Barcelona drew 0-0 at San Siro before the Spanish side prevailed 3-1 in the return, Lionel Messi scoring two first-half penalties either side of Antonio Nocerino’s 32nd-minute equaliser. Andrés Iniesta cemented victory for Pep Guardiola’s side with a third goal after 53 minutes.

Milan earned a hard-fought 2-0 win at Genoa on Friday, with Giampaolo Pazzini scoring the stunning opener despite struggling with a leg injury that forced him off immediately after.

Barcelona had conceded at least once in each of their last 13 games in all competitions, their worst ever sequence, before Saturday’s 2-0 win against Deportivo La Coruña.

Alessandro Matri insists that he his happy at Juventus amid reports linking the forward with a transfer to Arsenal.

Matri has made only seven Serie A starts for Juve this season but has managed six goals in the Italian league.

Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal are reported to have been keeping tabs on the 28-year-old Italian, who has five caps to his name.

But Matri, who has also scored two Champions League goals this term, insists he is happy at the Turin club.

“It’s clear that I want to play in every game, but I’ve always felt like the club have backed me, that they have always been close to me. That’s a nice thing for players who are not used all of the time,” Matri told Tuttosport.

“When I’ve been called into action I’ve been ready and the side hasn’t missed who I have replaced.

“If I am made to feel like an important player then I would prefer to stay at Juventus, rather than join another club who could perhaps offer me more playing time.”

Matri added: “If the time comes where you start to lose faith then it is better to change clubs. Yet that moment hasn’t arrived yet. If it does then it will be me who asks to leave.”