Napoli fans will be more relieved than most when January is out of the way and they can look forward to the rest of the season safe in the knowledge that Edinson Cavani will still be spearheading their attack.
So far the signs are that Napoli, who are five points behind Serie A leaders Juventus and visit Parma tomorrow, will hold on to their talismanic striker, thanks partly to his €63 million buyout clause.
The powerful Uruguay striker, who scored his 100th Serie A goal in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fiorentina, has averaged more than one a game for Napoli in all competitions this season, making him one of European soccer’s most prolific strikers
Top scorer in Serie A with 17 goals, nine with his right foot, four with his left and four with his head, he has amassed 92 goals in just two-and-a-half seasons since joining Napoli from Palermo, making him the club’s all-time sixth highest scorer.
He is closing in rapidly on Brazilian forward Careca (96) and Jose Altafini (97) and is only 23 short of Diego Maradona’s 115, a total which took the Argentine seven seasons to reach.
“I have already received a 55 million bid for Cavani, and I said no,” said club president Aurelio Di Laurentiis last week.
“I need him, not the money.
“I trust in his professionalism. He knows that here he is the number one, while I believe that in other places or in teams he could not identify with the city, the shirt and the fans the way he does here.”
Cavani also appeared to commit his future to Napoli after the Fiorentina match.
“I want to leave a mark on this city which has treated me fantastically. I’d like to give something special to our public,” he said.
But with big-money clubs lurking on the sidelines, last-minute deals can never be ruled out.
Napoli fans, who saw forward Ezequiel Lavezzi depart for Paris St Germain in the close season, will only be able to breathe a collective sigh of relief when the deadline passes on January 31.
As long as Cavani is still knocking in the goals, Napoli will have an outside chance of catching Juventus, who have looked more inconsistent and vulnerable than when they won the title unbeaten last season.
“There’s nothing wrong with dreaming about the Scudetto, personally I am realistic and think we have to improve greatly but anything can happen in this championship,” added Cavani.
“In some matches, we have been lacking a bit of concentration. When you lack the will to win, you are at risk against any opponents. But we are improving in that aspect.”
Roberto Donadoni’s Parma will offer Napoli a stern test as so far this season they boast the only unbeaten home record in Serie A.
Tonight, leaders Juventus host lowly Genoa, who will be playing their first game under Davide Ballardini, their third coach of the season, after firing Luigi Del Neri in the wake of their 2-0 home defeat by Catania last week.
Lazio, who have been a revelation having dropped only five home points, host an indifferent Chievo, who have lost eight of their ten away games.
Fixtures
Serie A - Playing Today
Lazio Vs Chievo - 18.00
Juventus Vs Genoa - 20.45
Tomorrow
Atalanta Vs Milan
Bologna Vs Roma - 12.30
Cagliari Vs Palermo
Catania Vs Fiorentina
Inter Vs Torino - 20.45
Parma Vs Napoli
Sampdoria Vs Pescara
Udinese Vs Siena
Standings: Juventus 48; Napoli, Lazio 43; Inter 39; Fiorentina 36; Milan 34; Roma 33; Catania 32; Parma 31; Udinese 30; Torino (-1) 26; Chievo 25; Atalanta (-2) 23; Bologna, Sampdoria (-1) 21; Cagliari, Pescara 20; Genoa 17; Palermo 16; Siena (-6) 14.
Serie B
Played Yesterday
Crotone Vs Sassuolo 2-1
Today – 15.00
Bari Vs Ascoli
Cesena Vs Vicenza
Empoli Vs Novara
Grosseto Vs Cittadella
Modena Vs Ternana
Padova Vs Livorno
Pro Vercelli Vs Reggina
Spezia Vs Verona
Varese Vs Lanciano
Monday – 20.45
Juve Stabia Vs Brescia
Standings: Sassuolo 51; Livorno 47; Verona 43; Varese (-1) 36; Empoli (-1) 33; Modena (-2) 32; Brescia 31; Juve Stabia, Padova (-2), Cittadella 30; Spezia, Ascoli (-1) 28; Ternana, Crotone (-2) 25; Bari (-7) 24; Reggina (-2) 23; Novara (4), Lanciano 22; Cesena 21; Vicenza 19; Pro Vercelli 15; Grosseto (-6) 11.