Matador Cavani taking Napoli by horns
Reuters - Thursday 13 January 2011, 02:00
MILAN - In-form Napoli striker Edinson
Cavani, nicknamed "the Matador" for his commanding presence, has
fans dreaming that a new South American hero can inspire them to
Serie A glory.
Just over 20 years since Argentina's Diego Maradona led the
Naples side to their last scudetto, Cavani has inconsistent
Fiorentina in his sights for Saturday's home game.
The Uruguayan hit a hat-trick in last Sunday's 3-0 win over
Juventus to move them up to second and the San Paolo has rarely
seen such scenes of jubilation since their title days.
"I wouldn't sell him for 50 million euros," said Napoli
president Aurelio De Laurentiis, whose side trail leaders AC
Milan by four points at the midway point of the season.
The magic of the night has been perpetuated by a bizarre
debate about Cavani's third goal.
On first viewing it looked like he had scored with a diving
header but You Tube clips suggest it may have come off his neck,
back or even his heel for a stunning scorpion-like strike.
Such brilliance has put him top of the Serie A scoring
charts with 13 goals alongside Udinese's Antonio Di Natale.
Pundits thought Napoli were taking a risk when signing him
from Palermo in July after he was the least effective of
Uruguay's front three in their run to fourth in the World Cup.
But while Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez were making
headlines, a previously goalshy Cavani was honing his game and
he now looks electric with Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik
playing just behind him in Walter Mazzarri's side.
Napoli had a hiccup when losing at Inter in Leonardo's first
game in charge two weeks ago but talk of the scudetto is not so
far fetched given Milan are not totally convincing, Inter are
adrift if improving and Lazio and Juve are starting to slip up.
Milan follow Sunday's 4-4 draw with Udinese with a trip to
Lecce on Sunday with new signing Antonio Cassano probably
not quite match fit enough to start despite his fine form.
Juve, who look to have missed out on Fiorentina's Alberto
Gilardino for now, host lowly Bari after two straight
league defeats while Inter entertain Bologna on Saturday.