Every stocky Argentine who can dribble and wears a Napoli jersey gets the inevitable comparison to Diego Armando Maradona. Ezequiel Lavezzi is the latest and even has the seal of approval from El Pibe de Oro’s former agent, Jorge Czysterpiller. “He is an excellent player and a star of the Argentina Under-20 squad,” he said. “He is young, a second striker with the tendency to go on mazy runs with the ball and I think he will set the San Paolo crowd alight many, many times. He was the only Argentine I recommended to Napoli over the summer.”
Few have had such an immediate impact on a club, even one as passionate as Napoli. He came on as a substitute in the Coppa Italia and netted a hat-trick to see them past Pisa in extra time, becoming the first Napoli player to grab a treble in any competition since Daniel Fonseca in a 5-0 win over Reggiana on November 28, 1993. Then on his first Serie A start he put in an inspirational performance in the 5-0 victory at Udinese, scoring a magnificent solo effort and providing two assists. In one afternoon he highlighted just why he is nicknamed ‘Pocho’ – lightning – as he shot past defenders at the speed of a thunderbolt. “Despite all the praise, I still have a lot of work to do. The day when my best form arrives is a long way off,” warned the 22-year-old who has penned a five-year contract.
It’s strange to think that fans had been unimpressed with Lavezzi’s introduction to the squad this summer, when director general Pierpaolo Marino was convinced to hand over £4m to San Lorenzo after viewing videotapes of his performances and calling scouts in South America for information. His presentation Press conference caught Napoli supporters protesting at the lack of big-name buys. They soon changed their tune.
“After the first week of pre-season training I had already noticed his talent,” smiled Coach Edy Reja. “He has incredible tricks as well as impressive movement. With his characteristics, Lavezzi can really excite the fans in a place like Napoli and further afield. Marcelo Zalayeta is also crucial, as he can hold up the ball and give Lavezzi the space to come in from behind. In the transfer market for strikers we focused solely on Zalayeta because he was the key to everything.”
Lavezzi, also nicknamed ‘Locho’ for his brusque manner off the field, combined brilliantly with the former Juventus benchwarmer in their debut outing at the Stadio Friuli. He can play on either flank, putting in crosses, assists or cutting back past his marker to go for goal – as he did so successfully for his first Serie A strike. In a one-on-one situation with his pace and dribbling skills he can be deadly, as many more defenders will discover.
“It really was a fantastic day and we gave the fans a real show,” Lavezzi continued. “We are still working on our understanding, but already seek each other out on the pitch. My runs were studied in training and it all came off like clockwork. I have to thank my teammates and the club for the faith they have always shown in me.”
Yet his path to the San Paolo has been a long and rocky one. Not only did he give up football briefly in his youth to help his older brother in his profession as an electrician, but this is also his second stint in Italy. Before he had even played a single top-flight game for Estudiantes, Genoa snapped up the teenager in 2005 to bolster their return to Serie A. Unfortunately, that was the summer of the match-fixing trial and demotion to Serie C, so young Ezequiel was sent straight back to Argentina.
It may well have proved to be a blessing, as it gave him time to mature and shine in South America at his new club San Lorenzo de Almagro. Bought for just £1m, they fought off bids from Deportivo La Coruna, Atalanta and River Plate, so he stayed and scored seven crucial goals in their Clausura triumph. Capped by the national side, he was one of several players surprisingly left out of the ill-fated 2007 Copa America.
“It is important for me to do well at Napoli – everything else, including being considered an international, comes as a consequence of that,” he stated. “It would be a dream come true to be a focus point for these incredible fans. They have showered me with affection from the moment I arrived. Yet my main aim is to play for the team rather than individual glory, as I love setting up my teammates and providing assists. Of course, scoring a goal is the greatest thing in football and I hope to score as many as possible, but what I desire more than anything is to get a fine result with the team. I am the one who must adapt to the way the squad plays, not vice versa.
“I came to Napoli with immense joy. This is a club known throughout the world and among the most prestigious in Italy. Knowing that I am wearing the same jersey as Maradona can only increase my happiness and honour to be here. I love the warmth of this city. I feed off passion for football and so I know that in Naples I’ll find what I have always been looking for.”
Knowing this is a place that painted giant murals to its calcio heroes, one can easily imagine a perfect storm brewing at the San Paolo. The more spectacular the performances, the more excited the crowds become, the more Lavezzi cranks up the entertainment. And we’ll be there to watch lightning strike over and over again.
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