Edinson Cavani return after Copa America exit a big boost to Manchester United

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Edinson Cavani suffered more penalty shootout heartbreak at the weekend as Uruguay bowed out of the Copa America.

Following a 0-0 draw with Colombia, the Copa America quarter-final went straight to penalty kicks.

Just like in Gdansk, Cavani did his job by scoring his penalty, but still saw his team end up on the losing team, with Colombia winning the shootout 4-2.

This was likely Cavani’s final chance to try and win Uruguay their first Copa America since 1995. He will push to be involved at the 2022 World Cup, and that could be his final international tournament.

Positive for United

While disappointing for Cavani, we simply have to be a bit selfish here and focus on the positive outlook for United. He is coming home a week early.

United only have Cavani for one more year before his contract expires, so every second counts.

If Uruguay had got to the final on July 11, and won it and likely returned to his homeland to celebrate, there is a chance that after a well-earned holiday too, Cavani would not be returning to Manchester until August.

Now with Uruguay eliminated a week early, Cavani is already preparing for his holidays.

There is a fair chance Cavani could even be back at United for the club’s first pre-season home fixture which takes place at Old Trafford against Brentford on July 28. If not then he certainly will for the following week against Everton.

What could have turned into a race against time to start United’s first Premier League game of the season against Leeds, no longer looks like an issue.

Now both Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood will have headstarts after having the whole pre-season, and United may seek to ease Cavani in, but it is great to have him available as an option all the same.

Cavani ended his first season with 17 goals and will fancy a crack at topping that in 2021/22. After a break now to put his double penalty shootout heartbreak behind him, Cavani should return to United raring to go.

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