Edinson Cavani’s hard-working approach to training has been compared to Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo by an insider at former club Napoli.
Cavani was said to be ‘the first in and last out’ of training during his spell in Naples, with former manager Walter Mazzarri in awe of the efforts he would put in both on and off the pitch.
‘He didn’t act like a top player despite wanting to become one,’ Mazzarri told The Athletic.
‘In terms of work ethic he was the number one with Marek Hamsik. He never held back and put in extra work.
‘ He wanted to train even when everyone else had finished. He could be there another 10 minutes or an hour.
‘In the sunshine and the rain, in the wind and the dark, it was me and him out on the pitch at Castelvolturno repeating the moves he needed to make in order to score.’
Comparisons have been drawn between Cavani and former United attacker Ronaldo, who is renowned for leaving no stone unturned with extra work on the training field.
‘He is a top, top professional,’ a source at Napoli told The Athletic.
‘At Napoli, most players finish training and go around the corner to the golf course. But he went for runs by himself and he would be the first in and last out.
‘He is very good for the team, pushing everyone forward, on top of everyone else and making them perform. The players missed him when he left.
‘He was a top player on the pitch but also in training. The fans were furious when he left for PSG but he was a big player and they felt betrayed. But what can you do if PSG wants someone? He has a top mentality.’
