Veteran Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani has spent the 2021-22 campaign working alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford. It saw the Portuguese score 24 goals that season, but a second spell in England did not work out as planned for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Ronaldo is still in fine form at the age of 39 with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, but is not considered part of a talent list drawn up by his former Mancunian pal.
Work pays for Cavani
Cavani, who is now on the Boca Juniors squad, clarified his position on ESPN when asked if he considers himself a football genius: “No, honestly no. There are other geniuses: Messi, Neymar, Ronaldinho, (Diego) Maradona. I am a footballer who has perfected himself, who has improved and who is hungry for goals and to always seek glory, to win, to want, to go… We improve and things happen. Sacrifice pays. »
Cavani, who also represented Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain during his distinguished career, added of the genius: “Geniuses often have it easier, even if they have a lot of work and professionalism behind them. Things come naturally to geniuses. Work pays in all areas of life. I grew up watching my parents excel, in a humble family where nothing was lacking, but they made us understand that obtaining things was expensive. It teaches you and you begin to see that my parents’ sacrifice is rewarded and you begin to make sense of it and develop yourself. When you reach a certain point and make your decisions, you see that the most important recipe is work and dedication to what you do. And love for what you do. When you have a passion for something and you do it with love, you have to try to be the best. »
