Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 5y

Mexico's Lozano seals Napoli transfer

Mexico international Hirving Lozano has joined Napoli on a permanent deal from PSV Eindhoven and becomes the Serie A side's ninth signing of the summer.

The 24-year-old winger joins after months of speculation regarding his future, with Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti publicly acknowledging his interest in the Mexico City native last May.

Lozano arrived in Italy earlier this week to undergo medical tests and has been present at Napoli's training facilities. 

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Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti said Lozano should be ready to suit up in a week.

"He has to train well and after that he has to sort out some bureaucratic things and he'll be available for Turin [Juventus] in one week," Ancelotti said in a news conference on Friday.

"He's a very good player, strong, we've watched him for a long time. The operation wasn't easy. A player has arrived that increases the quality of the team. I spoke with him and he's a serious and attentive boy who is coming to Naples with big desire.

"He can play in any of the attacking positions, including as a center-forward. I like complete players that know how to cover all the attacking roles."

Lozano scored 21 goals in 40 games in all competitions for PSV last season, including two in the Champions League.

He played in all four of Mexico's 2018 World Cup games, scoring the winner in El Tri's victory over Germany in the group stage, but did not feature in Mexico's 2019 Gold Cup-winning campaign due to a knee injury.

Before joining PSV in 2017, Lozano began his career with Pachuca, winning the Liga MX title and the CONCACAF Champions League.

Lozano -- who has nine goals in 36 international games -- is an integral part of the Mexico national team under Gerardo "Tata" Martino, who indicated in March that he believed the forward was ready for a step up to a bigger league.

"I think that Hirving has been in Holland a decent amount of time and has shown he's a valuable player that can make the jump to one of Europe's biggest institutions," he said in a news conference. "I'd be in agreement [with a move], but it's obviously the player's decision.

"From the analysis side, is the player is now prepared? Absolutely, yes."

Lozano could potentially make his debut for Napoli in the club's opening Serie A game of the season on Saturday against Fiorentina.

Napoli finished second in Serie A last season and will compete in the Champions League.

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