We’re in the early stages of the transfer window, and it already feels like we’re coming to a close with the amount of dialogue from managers, presidents and players greater than ever. It started with Mario Gotze’s pre-maturely announced move to Bayern Munich, followed by Alex Ferguson’s retirement which lead to David Moyes’ appointment, and of course Jose Mourinho’s arrival. That was the beginning of us waking up to realise that the window is truly up and running. This was then followed with quotes by Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne which suggested they are to stay at Chelsea for the upcoming season. Much to the continued delight of the fans was the fee agreed with Bayer Leverkusen for Andre Schurrle, a player we are yet to make an official Blue. More recently were quotes by Marco van Ginkel’s agent which cleared up the rumours about his future, and that only formalities were the last barrier between the player and Chelsea.
Amongst this crazy start, the rumour that has excited and frustrated us the most has been Edinson Cavani’s potential move away from Napoli, with Chelsea marked as favourites for his signature, although Real Madrid are rumoured to be hovering around the situation and potentially swooping in when Aurelio De Laurentiis is ready to sell.
With several twists and turns, Cavani looks more prone to leave Napoli than ever. Here’s the situation as we know it:
14th July, 2012:
Mino Raiola begins a rumour that said Cavani would like to leave Napoli.
“Cavani, if he could, he would leave immedietely, but the president is not easy in these matters.”
10th August 2012:
The Daily Star reports Chelsea are in talks with Napoli over £29m rated Edinson Cavani.
14th August, 2012:
The Daily Mail say that Chelsea are threatening to pull out of a deal for Cavani, with Napoli’s financial demands inflated in Chelsea’s presence. Hulk also admits a transfer to another club is on the table.
22nd August, 2012:
Reports in the media suggest Edinson Cavani is set for a switch to Chelsea, who are also linked with Atletico Madrid striker, Radamel Falcao, as well as FC Porto’s Hulk, who is desperate for a move to Stamford Bridge.
Fast forward to this year’s summer transfer window:
27th of May 2013:
Cavani says he’s not paying attention to rumours linking him with a move to Chelsea, City or Real Madrid.
“I know Real Madrid, Chelsea and (Manchester) City are interested in me, but I just think about Napoli.”
7th of June, 2013:
Cavani’s link away from Napoli gains ground with Napoli President, Aurelio De Laurentiis announcing:
“Chelsea are interested in Cavani and they will call me soon,” he said. “If he did decide to go to Chelsea we would take time out to think and replace him with people worthy of replacing him.”
This was followed by strong rumours suggesting Chelsea were working towards triggering Cavani’s contract clause of €63m.
Waiting in the wings are Real Madrid and Manchester City.
22nd June, 2013:
Cavani, at the Confederations Cup in Brazil, admits he wouldn’t reject the chance to join Chelsea or Real Madrid:
“In this moment I don’t know [anything] about my future. It will be difficult to say no if there will be offers of Chelsea or Real Madrid”.
21st June, 2013:
After 3 reported bids from Chelsea are rejected, Aurelio then drops a clanger by letting it slip that Cavani’s contract clause of €63m will expire on the 10th of August, as well as ruling Manchester City out of the race, who aren’t ready to match the clause.
“I don’t think Cavani will leave on 10th August, when his buyout clause expires,”
“I’m confident in him, because I consider him a real man. He won’t make me a joke of me.
“Should Cavani want to leave, he will decide it after a long period of reflection. But by 20th July we will probably know everything about his future.”
“Manchester City have not got the money to pay for Cavani, they say, ‘We don’t pay that’,”
“The Abu Dhabi [owners] have said they will never spend €63m for Cavani. They say, ‘We can give other things’, but they are not in the interest of our club.”
23rd June, 2013:
After De Laurentiis jokes that he would ‘smack’ Cavani if he held off a transfer till the 10th of August, the date his contract clause expires, Cavani demands face-to-face talks with the Napoli President:
“[The] quotes by the president were heavy and very strong. I’m sorry, I want to talk to him face to face.”
It’s seemingly clear what Cavani’s intentions are, not once admitting that he’s looking forward to working with new Napoli boss, Rafael Benitez.
If reports emerging from Italy are to be believed, Cavani will indeed get his move, either to Chelsea or Real Madrid, in this transfer window. De Laurentiis admitting, mistakenly, that Cavani’s contract clause expires on the 10th of August will also make certain that clubs will wait for the date to begin bidding on the Uruguayan forward. Personally, I see Cavani moving to Chelsea for two major factors, one of them being that he’d be playing for a club that are season-on-season contenders for major honours domestically and in Europe, and the second factor being the influence of Jose Mourinho, and working for the best manager in the world.
Between now and the 20th of July, rumours and quotes will be generated on a daily basis, and the Cavani saga will eventually come to an end, but the competition between Chelsea and Real Madrid, or Mourinho and Real Madrid, will be one that interests most that are affected by it.
I sjest chls 2 messi knw