Olympic Soccer 2012: Edinson Cavani Must Improve to Become Big-Money Transfer

If Edinson Cavani wants to make the big bucks, he needs to start playing like it.

After two sensational seasons at Napoli, Cavani has been linked with a number of big-time club this summer. Rumours have circled the Uruguayan, with his transfer fee climbing and climbing.

However, according to the Daily Mail, Cavani has asked for £150,000 per week. If he could score 30 goals per year in the Premier League—like he did in Italy—he might be worth it. Unfortunately for him, his form doesn't support that demand.

Cavani has been a relative no-show at the London Olympics. Uruguay had a very winnable group, but after a stunning loss to Senegal, the team must now beat hosts Great Britain to advance. It was an avoidable must-win game, but Uruguay must now face that pressure.

And Cavani will face a lot of it.

After all the big-money talk, Cavani hasn't walked the walk. He needs to play better, and he needs to perform when his country needs him most. Great Britain will be an incredibly tough opponent, but Uruguay must win to stay alive.

In order to win, Cavani and company must crack Great Britain's solid defense. By no means is this an impenetrable force, but the British certainly have a formidable back line.

Nevertheless, Cavani needs to break through it.

Again, he's more than capable of it. He just needs to play up to his ability.

If Cavani no-shows once again, he will stay in Napoli for another year. Clubs will doubt his big-match ability, and they will pass on the 25-year-old. His ability to disappear when it matters is simply too dangerous.

Staying in Italy wouldn't be the worst thing for Cavani, but it doesn't seem like he wants that. Accordingly, if he wants to get paid a higher wage and play at a bigger club, Cavani needs to play better against Great Britain.

Otherwise, he will not be a big-money transfer this summer.