Napoli are just one victory away from making it into the knockout stages of the Champions League in their debut season.
They have an outstanding team but the standout player for me this season has been Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani.
Goals
He is the natural more finisher that every team needs. The man who always seems to be the right place at the right time to find the net. Cavani was one of the key factors in the Naples sides qualification for the Champions League last season.
He scored 26 goals in Serie A as Napoli finished third in the Italian top flight. Cavani has carried on in a similar vein this season scoring four goals in the Champions League and four in Serie A. The 24 year-olds goals against Manchester City in Napoli’s last match were crucial and took the Neapolitans above their rivals in the group.
Wanted
Cavani has been hot property for the past few seasons but his exploits last season and his start to this season has seen him linked with the likes of Chelsea, Paris St Germain and now Manchester City. However the striker is in no hurry to move on just yet.
He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “ It’s an honour to know there are many important coaches who are interested in me. These are managers who only coach prestigious clubs. I’ll probably be fine working with them.
“But for the moment, Napoli is best for me. The fans show affection and make me feel important. I am enjoying the moment and want to win with this shirt. Thinking that we are following in the footsteps of Maradona and Careca is something very beautiful, it’s the greatest satisfaction.”
Loyalty
Loyalty in football is very rare these days. Most footballers hand in a transfer request at the smell of a bigger pay cheque or a move to a bigger club. However Naples is a special place and the city’s inhabitants are famed for their passion.
It’s no different when it comes to their football team. These fans show an amazing commitment to their players. Maybe that’s why Cavani feels like he wants to stay. Not only is Naples a special city but Napoli is a special club.
The fans have been through thick and thin in recent years with their club and they deserve to have a hero like Edinson Cavani playing for them.
Title
Napoli were expected to challenge for the Serie A title this season but their challenge has faltered in the last few weeks. A dip in form means that the club is currently seventh in the Serie A table. However they have already beaten some of the biggest clubs in Italian this season and could still challenge for the title.
If they are to challenge for the Scudetto then Cavani will have to be in top form. Cavani with the likes of Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi are the attacking inspiration for a good solid team. When they hit top form the club will move up the table.
Elite
No doubt Edinson Cavani is good enough to move to one of Europe’s elite clubs. Even the most optimistic Napoli fan wouldn’t say they are quite at the level of AC Milan or Juventus, who this season has underwent a renaissance under former-midfielder schemer Antonio Conte.
Its inevitable that Cavani will move on to a bigger club. He has skills that most clubs in Europe crave. The striker has good technical ability, he’s not slow and he can score goals. A natural goalscorer is a hard thing to find these days.
For now though it seems that Cavani is happy to try to help Napoli back to former-glories. Its nice to see a player whose head isn’t turned by big clubs and big money. This could be his last season at Napoli so I hope he makes the most of it and helps Napoli back into the Champions League spots in Serie A.
Which club will win the race to sign Edinson Cavani?
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