Juventus star Gonzalo Higuain reveals what Manchester United icon Ruud van Nistelrooy told him about how to end goal drought
Argentine has scored just twice in his last nine games for new club but is confident of breaking duck with words of wisdom
IT’S always good to get some tips from the very best.
And as far as strikers are concerned, they didn’t get more clinical than Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman scored an incredible 347 times in 589 matches during his playing career, including 150 goals over five years at Manchester United.
And even though he’s retired, Van Nistelrooy has been passing on words of wisdom to Juventus ace Gonzalo Higuain.
The Argentine equalled an 87-year-old Serie A record with 36 goals in 35 appearances last season for Napoli.
Higuain’s splendid form saw him secure a stunning £76million move to Turin over the summer, but the goals have dried up in recent times.
The 28-year-old has scored just twice in his last nine matches, and Juve fans are growing concerned after also losing young attacking partner Paulo Dybala to injury.
However, Higuain is confident he can hit the ground running again after Van Nistelrooy gave him some ‘beautiful’ advice to help him break an earlier drought.
Higuain revealed: “He told me something during a period in which I didn’t score. And it’s true.
“You try, but it doesn’t come out. And when it comes out, it all does at once. It’s like ketchup. It’s a beautiful anecdote.”
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Whether Higuain replicates Van Nistelrooy’s final tally remains to be seen, with the Argentine currently on 236 career goals from 469 games.
However, Higuain is on course to better the Dutchman’s international total of 35, having found the back of the net for his country 31 times so far.
Despite his goalscoring heroics last season, Higuain has become a villain in the eyes of the Napoli faithful.
The forward suffered a thigh strain last month and was forced to miss the Champions League group stage win over Sevilla.
But gleeful Neapolitans decided to celebrate his setback with a pizza feast – selling the cheesy goodness for just 99 cents EACH.
Higuain was dubbed a ‘traitor’ after joining fierce rivals Juventus, but he also had offers to play in England and Spain instead.
Napoli owner and film director Aurelio De Laurentiis, who held firm until Higuain’s release clause was met, confirmed: “We received a request from Arsenal.
“Personally, I also received a request from Atletico Madrid but they didn’t put enough money on the table.
“We were not ready to sell him – for me Higuain was not for sale.”
Atletico instead signed Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla, while Arsenal plumped for versatile Espanyol attacker Lucas Perez.