Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has checked Gonzalo Higuain off his wish list. The club is gambling big on Sarri’s choice, but who is the player?
Basically since Sarri moved Eden Hazard into the striker spot, it was pretty clear that the manager wanted reinforcements. After a particularly rocky patch, the Blues have once again decided to listen to their manager in January by getting them a new striker. Gonzalo Higuain was linked back in the summer, but the board was hesitant. Fast forward a few months and they seem to be willing to take the risk for Sarri. But who is the striker really?
History
Simply put, Higuain was Alvaro Morata before Alvaro Morata was a thing. At Real Madrid, he was backup to Karim Benzema and he never really threatened the Frenchman’s spot. Despite that, Higuain still scored at a high rate over time but it was clear he was not going to be first choice.
So after seven seasons in Madrid, Higuain took a step back to go be Napoli’s main man. For two seasons under Rafa Benitiz, Higuain was more or less as advertised. He was good, but never looked to be truly great until Sarri got his hands on him (for one season). That one year under Sarri forged a bond between the two that resulted in Higuain’s career year.
Juventus came calling because they could not allow a rival to have such a good player. For two years in Turin, Higuain maintained his high level of performance that began under Sarri. But the introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo meant someone had to make way. Thus, Higuain was loaned to AC Milan after it became clear Chelsea was not very interested in his services.
Fast forward six months and Higuain’s loan to Milan is being cancelled so he can be loaned to Chelsea. It is fair to say his time in Milan was terrible. But, Sarri still wanted him, Chelsea accepted that wish, and now Higuain is blue looking to turn the narrative around.
But is he any good?
Historically? Yes. Currently? No. Higuain was a fine striker on paper in the summer. Old, but fine. But after his time in Milan, it is difficult to say if he has just regressed or had a bad time. It is easy to say Milan did not create enough for him, but Chelsea is not really creating for their striker either.
The notion that he “knows Sarrismo” seems to be the biggest selling point despite Higuain only playing one year under Sarri. Given that was now years ago, it either means Sarrismo is unchanged or is simpler to understand than advertised.
Regardless, Higuain is really only six months removed from being good. If Sarri really does know the secret to him, then all will work out well so long as Higuain remains a short term solution. But if he has really just regressed (which would imply Juventus saw this coming), that means Chelsea’s fortunes are unlikely to change at all.
Why is it a gamble?
Sarri is staking a lot on an old, out of form striker. It may be dramatic to say Sarri’s Chelsea career hinges on Higuain doing well, but it is not too farfetched. Chelsea is not short on strikers who could do a job, but they are either A: not given the chance or B: loaned out.
Morata’s already outscoring Higuain this year, but he is off to make room. Michy Batshuayi was already on Chelsea’s books and had a bad first half of the season (like Higuain), but he is off. And Oliver Giroud has not really gotten a solid look all year despite being similar to Higuain.
It is clear that Eden Hazard at striker is not working. But this is yet another short term solution to a long term problem at the manager’s request. Higuain might pull Sarri out of a hole this year, but then what? Giroud and Higuain will not both stay next year, Batshuayi is not trusted at all, and Morata is gone for who knows how long if not forever.
The club is still going to need a legitimate, world class, long term solution for striker. Maybe no one was available, but Chelsea had the resources to do without until the summer. So this is a gamble because Sarri is essentially saying he needs Higuain now to save the season. If it works, great, go buy someone amazing in the summer. If it fails, well Higuain might not be the only one leaving the Bridge.