Lavezzi: Serie A not on the decline
Paris St Germain forward Ezquiel Lavezzi dismissed suggestions that he was moving to France after being frustrated with the quality of football in the Serie A.
By ESPNSTAR.com staff
The top division in Italy has been plagued by a series of match-fixing scandals in recent years and the hold over the Champions League spots by the traditional powerhouses of AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus has repeatedly brought into question the competitiveness of the league.
The Neapolitan side have been the latest side outside of the big three to feature in the Champions League and they had a thrilling continental campaign last season which was only brought to an end by eventual champions Chelsea in the round of 16.
Lavezzi's move to PSG has been linked to his dissatisfaction with life in Italy but the Argentinean insisted that his decision had been motivated primarily by the attractiveness of the Parisian project instead of any concerns over the standard of play in Italy. And he said that he was eager to learn the French language in the coming months so as to transition smoothly into his new surroundings.
"I don't think Serie A is in crisis, it is one of the most competitive leagues. I repeat, what has prompted me to come here was the project, and also PSG's desire to buy me," he said.
"Moreover, this city is beautiful for any player. I hope to find the same warmth that I found in Naples.
"Speaking French? I'll have to learn the language quickly, I think that communication is very important for any group."
Lavezzi played for five seasons at Napoli and scored 38 goals for the club.