A duel he can’t win
Uruguayan striker battles with Neymar for PSG’s top spot
You have to feel for Edinson Cavani. His on-field spat with Neymar during Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 victory over Lyon in September made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The pair argued over who would take free-kicks and a 79th-minute penalty. When Cavani finally won the battle of wills, he proceeded to smash the spot-kick against the bar.
Highly displeased, rumours abounded that Neymar had demanded the club ship out the Uruguayan at the first opportunity. Although peace broke out the following week, it is not the first time Cavani has found himself having to fight his corner to get the respect he believes he deserves in the French capital.
Although PSG paid € 64million to bring the 26-year-old to France from Napoli in July 2013, the capital club already had Zlatan Ibrahimovic in its ranks – and it quickly became clear that the Swede had no intention of being usurped as top dog.
Forced to play out wide when his clear preference was to be used as a traditional centre-forward, Cavani was always a valued member of the PSG team but lagged way behind Ibrahimovic in the “first name on the team sheet” stakes.
It was no secret that Cavani was unhappy at being shunted out on the flank, so when Ibrahimovic left to join Manchester United in July 2016 the Uruguayan saw his big chance to finally establish himself as the club’s undisputed star striker.
With Angel Di Maria providing the ammunition, Cavani scored 35 goals in Ligue 1 last season. But although it was an impressive haul, it wasn’t enough to prevent Monaco from snatching the title. Cavani also scored eight goals in eight Champions League games, but then PSG crashed out in spectacular fashion, losing 6-1 away to Barcelona in the round of 16 after winning the first leg 4-0. And any guesses who scored two late, late goals at Camp Nou? Why, Neymar of course...
Cavani scores goals, there’s no doubt about that, but he has been criticised for some time in France over his chances- to-goals ratio, with even his staunchest supporters having to admit that he does often miss chances that he really should put away.
It is said that the on-field spat with Neymar was resolved when another Brazilian, the full-back Dani Alves, organised a “clear the air” players’ dinner at the Victoria Paris restaurant three days after the Lyon game. There were also reports that Cavani had been offered a
€ 1m, one-off payment to hand penalty duties to Neymar – which he declined.
Neymar later apologised for his behaviour, while PSG’s Unai Emery admitted such arguments were hardly surprising. “They’re two very competitive players,” said the coach. “They want the best for the team, but they also have individual objectives, which is natural.”
Emery may be on to something here. If, as is rumoured, Cavani has a clause in his contract that states he’ll receive a bonus of € 1m if he is Ligue 1’s top scorer, it would be fair to assume that Neymar has something similar, so the impulse to snatch every free-kick and penalty may not just be down to competitive spirit and superstar ego.
Even though Cavani is playing second fiddle once again, it looks unlikely that he will be moved on any time soon – with or without Neymar’s influence.
With his annual salary around the € 9m mark it would be hard to find another club prepared to stump up that kind of cash for a 30-year-old. And given that Cavani extended his contract with the club until 2020 in April last year, he seems happy to stay put in Paris for the time being.
The player himself has, however, talked of departing the club at some point in the future, suggesting a return to Italy could be on the cards before going back to South America.
“If I decide to change clubs I could well go back to Napoli before heading back to Uruguay,” says Cavani.
“After spending so many fantastic years there it’s normal to want to go back ‘home’ one day.”
“They want the best for the team, but they also have individual objectives, which is natural” PsG coach Unai Emery