CAGLIARI – He had caused great disappointment to Cagliari, in Sardinia, by scoring a 3-point goal in his last match at Genoa, before packing his bags and joining Roma. And now Eldor Shomurodov hopes to make amends with a heavy goal, one of those that are worth salvation, in that very stadium, the Ferraris, which saw him as a great protagonist for a season.
Shomurodov’s rise: now it’s important
It won’t be a match like any other for the Uzbek striker who, despite looking icy and not inclined to experience certain emotions, will have a few shocks on Monday night. With the Grifone shirt he celebrated his debut in the Italian top flight on 19 October 2020 against Verona with Rolando Maran on the bench. And always with the Ligurian rossoblù he experienced his best season in Italy, made up of 32 appearances and 8 seals which earned him the chance to land in the capital. “I want to see Shomurodov from Genoa again, the same one I would have liked to bring to Sampdoria when I led the Blucerchiati” were the words that Claudio Ranieri addressed to him when he called him to his court. And now, after a few empty passes after the Roman period, the Uzbek striker is showing what he’s made of. Skilled with his feet, quick to make plays and tactically valuable to give depth to the team or to keep the ball, lately the number 61 of Cagliari is showing off his entire repertoire. The continuous supplies given to Luvumbo against Juventus were just the icing on the cake of a period which, after the fracture in his right foot, proved to be very positive for him. The brace against Salernitana and the goal at Inter’s home completed his new explosion.
The goals for salvation
To the joy of Ranieri, who enjoys the moment of great development of an attacker who is difficult to give up. Because he knows how to play both with that pinch of selfishness typical of a striker, but also to be a great altruist at the service of his teammates. With only one thought in mind: to help the team achieve salvation. Scoring a few more goals after the first 3 already scored. To become an important player in a Cagliari team that is still waiting to find its striker. For now, attacking midfielder Viola leads the scoring charts with 5 goals, followed by Luvumbo and Pavoletti with 4. Overcoming them is a goal within the reach of Shomurodov who, having slowly entered the hearts of the rossoblù fans, could be part of the Cagliari of the future . There is no question of his qualities, but at the end of the season it will be necessary to negotiate a redemption with Roma to try to lower the cost of the price tag, set at between 9 and 10 million euros. He is a figure out of reach for the island club, although in line with a player who, when he is physically well and in top form, can make the difference. And he can become the leader of the offensive department of this team.
