Gonzalo Higuain has always been regarded as a decent prospect but he finally made the step up to world-class talent in the 2015/16 campaign. The Argentina striker netted an incredible 38 goals in 42 appearances for Napoli last season – which has seen his stock rise with a number of Europe’s elite clubs. While Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly interested, it’s hard to see the 28 year old leaving Napoli in the near future and Serie A fans can probably look forward to more Higuain specials next season.
“Napoli, tegola per Benitez: Higuain ko c” (CC BY 2.0) by NazionaleCalcio
Napoli are a fantastic side and Maurizio Sarri’s men are likely to be leading contenders in Bet365’s betting odds for the Serie A crown next season. Although Juventus have won the title for five years on the bounce, Napoli are a major force in Italian football and it must surely only be a matter of time before they get their hands on a first Serie A trophy since 1990. And Higuain’s incredible goal-scoring ability could end up being a key factor in helping them to finally pip Massimiliano Allegri’s men to the crown.
On his day, Higuain is almost unplayable – probably making him the second best out-and-out striker on the planet. While he simply cannot compete with Barcelona’s Luis Suarez, Higuain’s finishing ability is world class and the Napoli forward will attract plenty of attention in the transfer market this summer. Right now, the Italian side are holding out for over £70 million but the club could be swayed if the Argentina star pushes for a move away from the Stadio San Paolo in the coming weeks and months.
Based purely on his performances last season, Higuain has it all. The 28 year old has matured into a top talent and Napoli would do well to keep hold of their talisman in attack. Higuain showed glimpses of quality during his Real Madrid days but failed to produce the goods on a consistent basis – he now appears to have mastered the craft of goal scoring and that’s bad news for Napoli’s rivals. His longest ‘drought’ throughout the season was four matches and he ended the campaign with an impressive 12 goals in nine appearances.
However, he must now try and emulate last season’s form in the 2016/17 campaign. If he can do that, Higuain will go down as one of the greatest strikers in Napoli’s history. And the Argentina man is certainly capable of producing great things – especially whilst playing in Sarri’s system. Sarri, Higuain and Napoli are a match made in heaven and you would imagine every single fan will be praying that the 28 year old stays at the club this summer. After all, how do you replace a player of Higuain’s calibre?
If Higuain stays at Napoli, the Partenopei could be celebrating a title success at the end of next season – that’s how integral he is to their success. But for now, it’s a case of waiting patiently for Higuain’s decision regarding his future…