Manchester United are hoping Edinson Cavani can be convinced to renew his contract.
After a stirring performance in Manchester United’s 6-2 win over Roma, the desire among fans for Cavani to stay put has increased.
ESPN Deportes reported on Friday that Cavani appears to have decided he wants to stay, citing productive talks with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Formal talks are due over his contract, and the report suggests it should all be quite straightforward.
Still capable at the top level
Cavani’s performance in the Europa League semi-final demonstrated his ongoing ability to play at the top level. He produced two goals and two assists in an enthralling 90 minutes.
This followed on from an outstanding performance in United’s win over Tottenham a fortnight earlier.
If Cavani had doubts over his capability to cut it against top sides at the age of 34, he need not worry. He’s still got it.
He should be tempted to stay and have one real crack at the Champions League with United.
This season, he barely featured. Cavani started only one match out of six group games, the home win over Istanbul Basaksehir.
When he signed, he was barely fit, and he missed United’s crucial final match against RB Leipzig due to injury.
United narrowly went out of a tight group, and would have made it through most. This is a team capable of going well in the knockout rounds, as evidenced by the club’s recent cup records, and the lack of competition which has seen Chelsea reach the semi-finals. Next year could be United’s turn.
Add in a couple of strong summer signings and hopefully a softer group stage draw, and United could have a real crack at the competition in 2021/22.
Champions League has eluded Cavani
Cavani won plenty of trophies at Paris Saint-Germain, but nothing on the European stage.
That’s why this season’s Europa League would mean so much to him if United can go on and win it.
Most of Cavani’s time at PSG in the Champions League is remembered for heartbreak when it really counted. In 2019 that came at United’s hands, thanks to Marcus Rashford’s late penalty.
Buoyed by a strong Europa League run, whatever happens in the final, Cavani should feel like he is ready to have a go at the big one next season in United colours.
Solskjaer spoke after the Roma win about how Cavani is now fully fit, which he wasn’t when he joined.
The United boss told the MEN: “He was out for seven months without playing football for a long, long time before he came to us. He’s had a couple of injuries and he’s worked hard to get back fit and has shown his qualities.”
It all seems to be trending quite positively towards Cavani wanting to stay. Next season we could see more of him at his very best.
A return to South America can surely wait. Cavani won’t ever get another chance to have a real go at winning the Champions League, and United can provide the platform for him to do so.
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