De los Santos: "The energy that fans showed Cavani was key"

Edinson Cavani joined group training this week, and his debut for Valencia CF is getting closer. Gonzalo de los Santos, a former Valencia CF player and friend of Cavani's, spoke to VCF Media about the Uruguayan striker.

Alongside Cavani

I'm accompanying Edinson and his brother in this new adventure that he is experiencing at 35 years of age, but which gives him tremendous happiness. We will see what happens on the pitch, but he is very happy. He wanted to play in Spain and he wanted to do it at Valencia CF.

The importance of family

Edinson is a normal person. Besides being an elite footballer, he is a simple family man. The photo we have of him here shows what kind of player he is and the environment around him. The happiness that he has to be here encompasses the city of Valencia and the institution.

A proven goalscorer

I am convinced by him as a player and a person. He is an active player who has a World Cup coming up in three months, a starter for the Uruguayan national team who played friendlies with the national team two months ago and scored. What Cavani has shown over time has been goals, goals and more goals, but also defensive solidarity when the team needed it. He is a very supportive player on the pitch. He knows how to run forward, but also to get back on transitions. Valencia CF fans like that a lot.

Coming to Spain
LaLiga was one of the few leagues in which he had not played. He wanted to play in this league, but also to do so at a team and in a city that showed what Valencianistas have shown him in the last eleven or twelve days. The energy that the fans showed him was key to him making the decision to sign for Valencia CF. He had a lot of offers from abroad. He wanted to play in LaLiga, but not at any price. The club showed interest, the fans provided energy and there is a team here that intends to take a step up. The team has a base that needs to grow, and that gives the player a boost to be an important part, give positive leadership to the group and show what he has done throughout his entire career.

Great responsibility
It is a great responsibility. He arrived at the airport and they yelled at him: "Uruguay, Uruguay." That generates something very deep within the player, but also a great responsibility that he must transfer to training and to the pitch. There is confidence in Cavani because, throughout his career, he has had to overcome many obstacles. No one has gifted him anything. Everything was based on effort, sacrifice and goals. That is his calling card
 
Guaranteed performance
I believe that the education of sportsmen has grown a lot. Players on big teams live every day for football. Edinson is like that, otherwise he wouldn't be in the physical condition he is in, and he wouldn't exude this energy and natural leadership. Goals are something natural. A striker has to score goals. What generates so much expectation is all the teams that he has played for.