Napoli confirmed two new signings on Thursday as new coach Carlo Ancelotti looks to end the seven-year dominance of champions Juventus.
Last season's Serie A runners-up completed a deal for Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Real Betis, who has signed a five-year deal, before later revealing goalkeeper Alex Meret had also joined the club while announcing also that Emanuele Giaccherini has been sold to Chievo.
Spain under-21 international midfielder Ruiz has signed a five-year contract with the Azzurri after impressing with three goals in 34 La Liga outings last term, having spent 2016-17 on loan at Elche in Spain's second division.
The 22-year-old joins for a fee reported to be in the region of â¬30 million after the Spanish club confirmed on their website that Napoli had activated a release clause in his contract at Betis, whom he joined as an eight-year-old.
He was Napoli's second signing of the close season after striker Simone Verdi joined from Bologna for a reported fee of â¬25m -- also on a five-year contract.
Benvenuto Alex ! #ADL pic.twitter.com/ERZL6QcbsZ
â AurelioDeLaurentiis (@ADeLaurentiis) July 5, 2018
Just hours after confirming the signing of Ruiz, Napoli announced Meret had also joined from Serie A rivals Udinese.
Meret, 21, has signed a five-year contract with the Azzurri and will take the place of Pepe Reina, who left the club at the end of last month when his contract expired -- and subsequently signed for AC Milan.
The Italy under-21 international spent the past two seasons on loan at SPAL, helping them earn promotion from Serie B in 2016-17 when he conceded just 26 goals in 30 games, and helping to keep them in the top flight with 13 appearances, including his Serie A debut, last season.
Ufficiale: #WelcomeRuiz