Serie A special: Capocannoniere candidate – Edinson Cavani
Edinson Roberto Cavani Gomez or Edinson Cavani as he’s often called is a Uruguayan striker currently plying his trade in the Serie A with Napoli. The young player rose to fame as a teenage sensation following a string of fantastic performances in the 2007
South American Youth Championship in Paraguay. The striker scored an impressive 7 goals in 9 appearances.
El Matador as he is fondly called, came through the youth system at Danubio FC and made his first team debut in 2006. A 19-year-old Cavani scored a modest 9 goals in 15 appearances. Following his impressive performances for Uruguay’s U-20 squad, Palermo
President Maurizio Zamparini signed the highly rated forward despite strong interest from AC Milan and Juventus. Cavani made his debut in breathtaking style against Fiorentina in a league match. With his team trailing 1 – 0, Cavani entered the fray and scored
the equaliser within 15 minutes of his introduction. The striker scored with a volley from an impossible angle. The strike earned wild comparisons with Marco Van Basten’s wonder goal in the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship final.
Despite showing plenty of promise, Cavani had to be patient on the bench as Amauri and Fabrizio Miccoli started for the club. Following Amauri’s departure to Juventus, Cavani made the starting eleven and formed an impressive partnership with his skipper.
The striker didn’t score a lot of goals but his movement and hold play was always superb. With Cavani leading the charge, Palermo finished 5th last season as the club fought a fascinating battle with an equally impressive Sampdoria for a final Champions
league position.
President Maurizio Zamparini earned himself a reputation for signing wonder kids and selling them on huge profits. Cavani was certainly a similar case. In July 2010, Napoli announced the capture of Edinson Cavani with an option to buy. Napoli will have to
pay the Sicilian club a handsome 17million Euros for a permanent transfer.
Naples seems to have suited the Uruguayan perfectly. The striker has started the season in blistering form. Cavani scored a brace on his debut with the club, setting pace for the things to follow. In Serie A, Cavani scored a prolific 5 goals in 5 appearances.
His first goal was scored against Fiorentina in a controversial fashion as the ball didn’t cross the goal line but the goal stood. Cavani has followed his debut with a string of impressive performances and leads the Capocannoniere charts after 5 rounds of
football.
With the Argentine fireball that is Ezequiel Lavezzi running at defenders and often tearing them apart with his devastating turn of pace, Cavani would only be required to apply the finishing touches. Cavani has tremendous mental strength and composure for
a player of his age; it’s highly unlikely that he will let his teammates down. The Uruguayan forward will relish the service of Marek Hamsik in particular. The young Slovakian is the Serie A version of Steven Gerrard with his all round ability. He is more
than likely to assist in most of Cavani’s goals. Also, with Christian Maggio and Manuele Blasi bombarding the opposition boxes with their crosses, don’t bet against Cavani scoring a few with his head.
Following Cavani’s impressive start to the season, there is no reason for him to slow down. At just 23 years of age, the striker is only going to get better. The striker will be on the Capocannoniere charts come the end of the season and following his impressive
form, there is a feeling he might just nick the award.
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