The world champion ruthless with Edinson Cavani: "Hang up your shoes"

Edinson Cavani is going through a complicated phase, the most delicate of his long career that is now drawing to a close. Having arrived at Boca Juniors in 2023 after his experience at Valencia, the Uruguayan has netted 28 goals in 81 appearances in the Xeneizes’ jersey, but in recent times his performance is rather poor.

Injuries have prevented the ‘Matador’ from finding continuity and, under goal, he has not always been as polished as in the past. At the Bombonera, where they are always quite demanding, patience is not infinite, and so the former Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain striker has ended up in the crosshairs of criticism. Against Racing, who returned as a starter after months, he was protested by the public at the moment of his substitution in the 79th minute, when he left the field to Iker Zufiaurre.

One who commanded respect on the field, Óscar Ruggeri, intervened on the situation with strong words: “He has to stop playing,” he said peremptorily, demanding, however, that there be respect towards the 1987 class from people who struggle to do three consecutive dribbles. “It’s a shame that a champion with such a great career is insulted in this way.”

The former Argentine defender, world champion in 1986, and also starring in a brief stint in Italy with the Ancona jersey, added: “I don&#8217t know him well, we have crossed paths a few times, but it hurt me to see him like this the last time.”

According to Ruggeri, at almost 40 years old, it is not easy to keep up with the pace of today&#8217s Argentine soccer. “I think he is not thinking about retirement because he still wants to try to change the situation and close in a different way.” Meanwhile, Cavani was not summoned for the cup match against the not-unconquerable Gimnasia de Chivilcoy, won 2-0 by Boca, to continue personalized preparation work.