Rafael Benitez has admitted that he is "excited" by the prospect of taking charge at Napoli following his appointment at the Serie A club.

The Spaniard has returned to Italy by signing a two-year contract with Napoli after the club's president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed the news on Twitter.

"I am very happy and very satisfied for having committed to a great club with an illustrious heritage like Napoli," Sky Sports News quotes Benitez as saying. "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."

Benitez joins the club following an interim stint at Chelsea, where he led the side to a top-four Premier League finish and Europa League glory.