That this sentence could equally have been written in 1984 about Diego Maradona and Barcelona as in 2013 about Gonzalo Higuain and Real Madrid is a neat quirk that perhaps illustrates the sizeable repositioning of a club not overly familiar with success.
Yes, Edinson Cavani, scorer of 29 goals in 34 Serie A games last season, has departed for the pots of PSG gold but his £55million transfer has funded a spending spree that sees Napoli, under Rafael Benitez, furnished with a squad that can seriously compete for the Italian title and potentially embark on a run in the Champions League.
New signing: Higuain controls the ball next to Bosnian defender Emir Spahic of Sevilla
Superstar: Diego Maradona attacks for Napoli during the 1989 UEFA Cup Final Second LegOnly twice in the club’s history have they won Serie A – in 1986/87 and 1989/90 – both times propelled to glory by the orchestral talents of Maradona. It was a purple period for the Azzurri but one that fell away when the 5ft 5in conductor left in 1991.
The past three years have seen a reprisal in fortunes, and a debut appearance in Europe’s remodelled top-tier competition for the 2011/12 season displayed to the continent the forward triumvirate of Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Marek Hamsik.
They knocked Manchester City out of the competition that year and were only beaten by an inspired Chelsea team on the path to lifting the jug-eared trophy.
Argentine: Higuain celebrates a goal for his country at the 2010 World Cup
Showman: Maradona is fouled during a World Cup game against GermanyLast season, shorn of Lavezzi (also to PSG), they came runners-up to Juventus in the championship.
Can Higuain repeat the trick performed by his compatriot predecessor and lift Napoli one place higher? He clearly isn’t the individual force of Maradona but his goals record stands up to scrutiny. He scored 107 times in 190 games for Real after moving from River Plate in 2006.
Such impressive marksmanship is what made Arsene Wenger’s bid to bring him to Arsenal so sound. Personal terms were agreed but Real increased the price and in the end Napoli, spearheaded by their enigmatic chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, stumped up the extra. He cost £32million but it is a fee worth paying considering the wealth of experience he brings at the relatively young age of 25.
From his point of view, the chance to become a club’s go-to guy, having played second, third, and fourth fiddles to a cluster of stars at the Bernabeu over his stay, must have been enticing.
The opportunity to work with Benitez, a Champions League and Europa League winner, another factor to allure; so too was the team being assembled.
Pepe Reina, for so long Liverpool’s No 1 and a World Cup winner no less, will join on season-long loan. Former Real teammates Raul Albiol, the centre-back, and Jose Maria Callejon, the right-sided winger, have also moved east.
Dries Mertens, the left winger part of Belgium’s golden generation, will also help supply goal chances having been bought from PSV. Hamsik is still there as well. It is quite a squad.
Europe should take note. Another blue moon is rising.
Talent: Higuain tussles with Man City's Gareth Barry in the Champions League
Hand of God: Maradona's infamous opening goal against England in Mexico
