Edinson Cavani (Part 2)

Cavani's Serie A season started on 26 August, where he scored the final goal in Napoli's 3–0 victory over his former club Palermo. A month later, on 26 September, he showcased his scoring prowess with a sensational hat-trick against Lazio, helping Napoli secure a 3–0 win and maintain their unbeaten start to the Serie A season.
In a memorable performance on 8 November, Cavani single-handedly led Napoli to victory in the Europa League group stage match against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, scoring all four goals, including a remarkable half-volley and a stunning free-kick. He continued his heroics in Europe by netting a late penalty in the 94th minute against AIK, securing a 2–1 win and sending Napoli through to the next round of the Europa League. This goal also marked the final goal ever scored at the historic Rasunda Stadium.


Cavani's dominance was evident in Serie A as well. On 6 January 2013, he scored a perfect hat-trick as Napoli defeated Roma 4–1, bolstering their title aspirations as reigning champions Juventus suffered a surprise defeat. His outstanding performances throughout the season earned him the distinction of finishing as the leading Serie A goalscorer with 29 goals, six ahead of his closest competitor.
Despite rumors of interest from top European clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid, Cavani expressed his commitment to Napoli, stating his focus was solely on the club. However, he acknowledged that he would consider significant offers if they were to arise, paying tribute to his growth and experiences in Italy's Serie A. Napoli's club president later revealed that Cavani's reported £53 million buyout clause was set to expire on 10 August 2013, adding further intrigue to the speculation surrounding his future.


Edinson Cavani made a significant move to French champions Paris Saint-Germain, signing a lucrative five-year contract. The transfer, reportedly valued at around 64 million, marked Cavani's transition to PSG, making it the sixth-largest transfer deal in football history at that time. His arrival shattered the previous record in French football set by Radamel Falcao's 60 million transfer to Monaco earlier that summer. Cavani's move to PSG reunited him with former Napoli teammate Ezequiel Lavezzi, adding further firepower to the Parisian club's already formidable attacking lineup.


During his debut season for Paris Saint-Germain, Edinson Cavani made a notable impact, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess and contributing significantly to the team's success.
Cavani made his debut for PSG on 9 August, entering as a substitute against Montpellier. He quickly made his mark by scoring his first goal for the club in his second appearance, securing a late equalizer against Ajaccio on 18 August.
In the Champions League, Cavani demonstrated his ability to perform on the big stage, scoring his maiden goal for PSG in the European season opener against Olympiacos on 17 September. He continued his fine form throughout the group stage, finishing with four goals from five matches as PSG progressed with a perfect win record.


Despite facing a thigh injury that sidelined him for a month, Cavani made a triumphant return to the team on 2 March, finding the net in a crucial 2–0 victory over Marseille in Le Classique.
Cavani's standout moment came in the 2014 Coupe de la Ligue Final against Lyon on 19 April, where he scored both goals to secure a 2–1 victory for PSG. This triumph further solidified his reputation as a key player for the club.
Cavani amassed an impressive tally of 25 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions in his debut season, including 16 goals in 30 league outings. His contributions played a vital role in PSG's success during the campaign.


Edinson Cavani's time at Paris Saint-Germain continued to be marked by impressive performances and significant contributions to the team's success.
Cavani's celebration after scoring a penalty against Lens led to controversy when he mimicked shooting an imaginary bow and arrow. Referee Nicolas Rainville booked him for this gesture and later sent him off for dissent after Cavani protested the decision. PSG's president Nasser Al-Khelaifi defended Cavani, questioning why he was booked for a celebration he had done before.Cavani continued to shine in the Champions League, notably scoring the winning goal against APOEL in just 56 seconds, securing PSG's place in the knockout stage with two games to spare.


Cavani faced disciplinary action along with Ezequiel Lavezzi for missing a mid-season training camp and the first training session after the winter break. They were fined and suspended for two matches by PSG manager Laurent Blanc.
Despite the disciplinary setback, Cavani remained a pivotal figure for PSG, delivering key performances throughout the season. He scored two goals in the 2015 Coupe de la Ligue Final against Bastia, helping PSG secure a 4–0 victory. He also netted a hat-trick in a 6–0 win over Guingamp, which played a crucial role in PSG's six point lead in Ligue 1 with two matches remaining, ultimately leading to the retention of the league title.


PSG sealed a historic domestic treble on 30 May 2015, with Cavani scoring the winning goal against Auxerre in the Coupe de France final, marking his 31st goal in all competitions that season. Cavani's success continued into the following season, as he scored the decisive third goal in PSG's 4–2 win over Marseille in the 2016 Coupe de France Final, securing a second consecutive domestic treble for the club. Throughout these achievements, Cavani demonstrated his importance to PSG's success, contributing crucial goals and performances in key moments.


Edinson Cavani continued to showcase his goal-scoring prowess for Paris Saint-Germain, delivering standout performances and achieving significant milestones. In the UEFA Champions League Group A match against Arsenal on 13 September 2016, Cavani wasted no time in making an impact, scoring just 44 seconds into the game with a header from Serge Aurier's cross, marking PSG's fastest-ever Champions League goal. Despite the early goal, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Cavani's scoring spree continued in domestic competition, as he netted four goals in the first half of PSG's 6-0 victory over Caen in a Ligue 1 match on 16 September. This performance marked his first-ever four-goal haul for PSG and helped end the team's streak of three competitive matches without a victory.


Cavani scored a penalty in a 2-0 win against Angers, taking his tally to 14 goals in 14 Ligue 1 matches and making him only the fourth player in PSG history to score 100 competitive goals for the club. In the UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie against FC Barcelona, Cavani scored one goal in each leg, contributing to PSG's 6-5 aggregate loss to the Spanish giants. Despite the team's elimination, Cavani's goal-scoring form remained impressive, with eight goals from eight matches in the competition that season.
Cavani continued to excel in domestic cup competitions, scoring two second-half goals in PSG's 4-1 win over Monaco in the 2017 Coupe de la Ligue Final on 1 April. His outstanding performances throughout the season culminated in him being named Ligue 1 Player of the Year for scoring 35 goals.


Cavani formed a formidable attacking trio with Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. He maintained his goal-scoring form, finding the net in each of PSG's opening three games of the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League group stage. On 27 January 2018, Cavani made history by becoming PSG's all-time top scorer with his 157th goal in a 4-0 home win over Montpellier, surpassing Zlatan Ibrahimović's record. Cavani's contributions were instrumental in PSG's success, helping the team secure victories and titles in both domestic and European competitions.

References

1.  US Città di Palermo Report and Accounts on 30 June 2007 (in Italian)
2. ^ "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
3. ^ "Edison Cavani: South America's best-kept secret". CBC Sports. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
4. a b Norrito, Massimo (28 February 2008). "Cavani lancia la sfida a Pato" [Cavani challenges Pato]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 4 March 2015.
5. ^ "Ag.Cavani: "Contratto? C´è stato adeguamento" (in Italian). Mediagol.it. 29 April 2010. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
6. ^ SSC Napoli Report and Accounts on 30 June 2011 (in Italian)
7. ^ US Città di Palermo Report and Accounts on 30 June 2010 (in Italian), Require purchase in CCIAA
8. ^ "ZAMPARINI: LETTERA APERTA AI TIFOSI ROSANERO" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 2 March 2011. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
9. ^ "Cavani completes comeback". ESPN Soccernet. 26 September 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
10. ^ "Frantic Sunday sees Edinson Cavani fire again to flatten Juventus". The Guardian. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2020.