Gonzalo Higuain is a misunderstood character. Few players have experienced the highs and lows like the Argentine, and when he is in a strop he makes the proverbial bear with a sore head seem like Michael McIntyre on happy pills.
These are testing times for the striker, though an old friend from his days in the bay of Naples might be capable of bringing back the smiles.
Higuain is contracted to Juventus until June 2021, but is currently on loan to AC Milan. His switch to the Rossoneri last summer was enforced by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juve. Not for the first time in his career, Higuain was surplus to requirements and politely invited to tootle off, like when he left Real Madrid for Napoli in July 2013.
Higuian, is nicknamed ‘el Pipita’ as a tribute to his footballing father Jorge, who was called ‘el Pipa’. He was born in France, where his dad was playing, but the family moved back to Argentina when Gonzalo was ten months old, when Jorge joined River Plate.
Higuain has endured many disappointments that would have crushed other players. Perhaps the most infamous was a golden chance in the 2014 World Cup final. The score was 0-0 after twenty minutes, when a mis-judged headed back pass by Toni Kross put the South American one on one with Manuel Neuer.
The number nine sent a low drive wide of the post, and the opening was gone. Teammate Javier Mascherano threw his hands onto his head. He knew what a glorious opportunity it was. Everyone watching around the world knew, and that rushed shot came back to haunt Argentina when they lost 1-0 after extra time.
A year later he fluffed a crucial penalty when Napoli hosted Lazio in Serie A. The match was practically a Champions League play-off, and with quarter of an hour to go, Napoli won a spot-kick with the score 2-2.
Higuain, on a hat-trick, had his side’s destiny at his right foot. But he blasted over, and the visitors went on to score twice, claiming a shock 4-2 win. No Champions League for the Azzurri and heartbreak for their centre-forward.
His reputation for lacking the big match mentality continued growing. In stoppage time of the 2015 Copa America final against Chile, Higuain smashed an admittedly difficult chance into the side netting. The game ended goalless, and he fired his penalty into the Santiago sky in the shootout. Chile were the South American champions.
The script changed little the following summer in the Centenary Copa America final, although this time Higuain was substituted on 70 minutes. Midway through the first half he’d failed to capitalise on a great chance after pouncing on a sloppy pass by a Chile player. It finished 0-0, and Arturo Vidal and co. triumphed after penalties for the second year running.
His final curse also tainted his Juve career. Higuain was the hero in the 2016/17 Champions League semi-final first leg at Monaco, scoring two priceless away goals. But he barely had a meaningful touch in Cardiff where his former team Real crushed the Bianconeri 4-1 and took the silverware.
These agonising misses and misadventures fuel the theory that the Argentine can’t handle big matches. Those who have met and worked with him find him an intriguing character. There is a common view from members of the media that the ex-River ace can be arrogant and that he is covering big insecurities.
Higuain is a loner and can be touchy at times. He didn’t have huge amounts of friends in the Napoli dressing room, and to this day still leaps in the air and flays his arms with disgust when teammates don’t give him the pass he wanted.
There have been question marks over his lifestyle and diet too. To his credit, even at 31-years-old, Higuain has got an impressive short distance sprint considering his less than svelte physique. His weight has been a constant talking point for the last three seasons. In 2016 Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said the striker returned from the Christmas holidays looking like ‘he was running with a brick in his pocket’.
The 31-year-old will never star in a reboot of Baywatch, but his strength makes him hard to knock off the ball, and he is faster than he looks. There is a lot going for Higuain. Indeed, he wouldn’t get into scoring positions in high profile matches or appear in so many finals if he were an average player.
There have been joyful moments. He has won five league titles between Spain and Italy, and three Coppa Italias. In May 2008 he came on as a substitute for Real who were 1-0 down at Osasuna. They were fighting Barcelona for the league, but heading for a costly defeat. Three minutes from end Pipita created a goal for Arjen Robben, and at the death grabbed the winner himself to crown Madrid champions.
Last season’s clash with Inter was no less dramatic. Juve were facing two dropped points at San Siro, but el Pipita popped up with the deciding goal a minute before full-time. His clinical strike against former club Napoli (and scudetto rivals) in December 2017 was equally influential.
The home fans gave him a rough welcome and his participation was in doubt right until kick-off due to pain from a recent hand operation. But he played through the discomfort, ignored the barracking from the supporters who once loved him, and settled the matter on his own after thirteen minutes.
That game was Napoli’s first league loss of the season, and one of the turning points of the scudetto tussle. In short, exactly and the kind of goal Juventus signed the Argentine for.
If it’s sheer volume of goals that impress you, look no further than the 2015/16 Serie A campaign. In 35 games the Argentine broke a 66-year record by scoring 36 times in a league season. He plundered every type of goal as Napoli’s irrepressible spearhead. He felt valued and adored by his coach, Maurizio Sarri.
The fact that Sarri knows how to get the best from Higuain is a huge boost for Chelsea. The player, who boasts a cannon for a right foot, was the sharpest and happiest of his career in that single campaign under Sarri’s guidance. Higuain told Total Italian Football ‘the first thing that you notice about Sari is his sincerity. He looks you in the eye when he talks to you. He convinced me to stay with Napoli in five minutes (at the start of the 2015/16 season). He got the best out of me, and I am grateful.’
It’s true the Premier League is faster than Serie A and the forward is several years older than those record-breaking days, there is more space for attackers in English football. There is no convincing argument that Higuain won’t do as well as, if not better than struggling Alvaro Morata, or Olivier Giroud, who would probably require four seasons to hit 36 league goals.
He scowls, skulks and roars at teammates, and doesn’t thrive in finals. But Gonzalo Higuain is a guarantee of goals. Chelsea are on the verge of recruiting a demanding, sensitive soul, but also a winner. Someone who can make the difference when he’s feeling loved. If you look at it that way, signing el Pipita isn’t such a gamble.
Kukbikpsuy
2
OK, i wish him well
Liabklmrsy
0
sarri came to destroy Chelsea higuain would help him achieve that👏
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dnt think like that neighbor he want to build our team please
12UnitedGuyReborn
1
He will only make more of those Histories with them😂😂😂
Nicholasly
2
Everything in this reply is correct, Higuain was huge in terms of importance in our team, he changed completely his game to adapt to a more defensive style even in attack, his shielding of the ball was good.
oedipus
2
Mainly because we haven't had a great striker between rvp leaving and Lacazette joining. Ironically we don't get linked to many CBs and defence has been our weak spot since pretty much the old guard retired
idiot12
2
And he scored in big games too! How many crucial games against Napoli did you win because of his goals?
Stevemedu
2
I don't really remember, but apart from the last game that they won in Turin with the Koulibaly header I guess he scored in every match. And not only against Napoli, but that last minute goal vs Inter was pure ecstasy
oscillate
1
Sure, he was extremely unproductive and mostly a waste of a large transfer fee. He was still supported by Chelsea fans until the end due to clearly working very hard every game though. Unfortunately can't say the same about clear hard work for many of the other guys.
Realplayer
1
He's not athletic enough for the premier league in my opinion. Doesn't have the height or size to make up for his lack of pace. But we will see!
Shrivastava
2
Was once a great player . Had a better goal per minute record than Ronaldo when he was at Madrid. Better goal per minute record than Ronaldo in Serie A too. But has aged fast. His regression in the last 2 yrs has been alarming.
Tuesday
2
Could he take the physical nature of the Epl? Lacks pace & movement cant see how he's that much different to Giroud or Morata.
industry
1
Chelsea need a young guaranteed 25 goal a season man just like the top 6 clubs have eg liverpool ie Salah, city Aguero...Spurs, Kane, Arsenal Auba, Chelsea..???Higuain is at the tail end of his career..he will struggle in the premier league
tutorial
1
Good goalscorer, but old, his best days are behind him. Probably Ok for one season.
Sulivan
1
Can't possibly miss more chances than Morata, and considering he doesn't cost much and can be returned to sender if he fails it seems like a good gamble, ubless there's a Torres somewhere willing to move in January
Baldwins
1
Even Crouch survived in EPL if you're looking at the physical perspective. I know it's a gamble but it's a fun risk to take. Good luck Higuain!
Nichola
1
Surely he won't be a penalty taker we already have hazard and willian
Footballlimr
1
Even morata is having a better season than him...buying him on virtue of that good season he had under sarri is utterly stupid...for reference, check benitez and torres
Gabrieljackson
2
remember messi would have won the world Cup if higuain was a good striker
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it was not as direct as higuains chance
hasbiluy
1
The guy missed a One-on-one at 2014 WC final.. and then celebrated for around 2mins for a disallowed goal.
alexddahn
2
As far as I'm concerned, Chelsea isn't signing Higuain to take any penalty Eden Hazard is there, coz we knew his past records, we aren't fooled
Blue4life
1
WHY DOES SARI ONLY BELIEVE IN PLAYERS HE HAS WORKED WITH IN PRECIOUS CLUBS.
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The market is stiff.You think we won't like veratti or rabiot as our regista?Even pèredes we wanna sign is bring chased by psg.Higuan is the only other option for now just as Giroud was last January.We will bid for Icardi in the summer
janabarca
3
still I don't have any idea what jorginho doing at Chelsea other than de position kante hope sarri right this time
Abbawaziri
3
Forget about higuain. Paredes is a crucial signing to our team one of the best creative midfielders in the world right now and he will fit into sarri ball.
Sivacena
1
This is Chelsea 😢😢 . Why does Sarii do this ?
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Higuain is good just he lost his touch he needs to be reboosted back to his good form just encourage him he is a good player that have just lost his touch and confidence
vumbnoprz
2
remember messi would have won the world Cup if higuain was a good striker
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messi missed a sitter against Germany in extra time go and rewatch the match nobody should blame higuain its a teams game
Humancalculator
3
WHY DOES SARI ONLY BELIEVE IN PLAYERS HE HAS WORKED WITH IN PRECIOUS CLUBS.
Zotdlryz
5
well come to the bridge but please proof to the doubting Thomases that you will score more goals than expected
Zakarie1234
4
why chelsea signed leandro paraedes[Cry]
Vezonic22
3
Welcome Higuain and make sure you miss some important and well needed goals. 😂😂😂😂😂 Just do your best.....and do whatever you can👌👌🏿
Vohacirty
3
welcome Gonzalo Higuain to Stamford bridge were things happen.
AlfredchelseaFC
4
Let us forget all these bad mistakes he had made ... just pray that he’ll do better with us the rest of the season...let’s encourage him and give him more energy coz it’s us the fan who can change them ... PEACE ✌🏻...Welcome El Pipita 💪🏻💪🏻
thisisanonymous
5
sarri came to destroy Chelsea higuain would help him achieve that👏
Wendy-Alison042
3
haha is these a hug or a fight because I can see that Sarri is about to cry he is about lost his breath hope you are not coming to Chelsea to finish the fight or even kill him at Stamford Bridge
espaul
3
saying Messi could have win world cup
VanishPrasad
4
This is Chelsea 😢😢 . Why does Sarii do this ?
Gabrieljackson
4
remember messi would have won the world Cup if higuain was a good striker