Rumours linking Edinson Cavani with an exit took on extra plausibility after his dad was quoted saying he was unhappy in England.
He told Super Futbol, quoted by ESPN: “I would say there’s a 60% chance. My son is not happy in England and wants to return nearer his family. He wants to play in South America.
“He was really unhappy about the sanction for saying ‘negrito.'”
Cavani’s displeasure at the way the FA treated him is understandable. Settling in England will also have been difficult due to the pandemic.
Is he really leaving?
It’s important to remember family comments are just part of the picture. Even Cavani’s dad considers there is only a 60-40 chance of him going.
His dad last summer said Cavani planned to play in Spain after leaving PSG. Not everything works out.
United hold an option to extend Cavani’s contract. TyC Sports in Argentina dismissed the prospects of him signing for Boca Juniors, with it reported he is expected to continue at United.
United could look to extend and then sell Cavani to make a profit. That’s one option. The real challenge for South American clubs is being able to afford the striker’s wages.
His dad’s comments could very easily have been mistranslated, if he was talking about a future move, as opposed to an immediate one this summer.
The striker posted on Instagram last night, appearing to shut down the rumours. His message translate as ‘proud to wear the shirt’.
What next for United if he did leave?
Cavani was brought in to boost United’s strike options, which was necessary after Anthony Martial took a step back in form. Essentially he replaced Odion Ighalo and was seen as a big upgrade.
United will have to sign a striker this summer, and it might not be a bad thing if the club’s hand is forced.
Re-signing Cavani and not doing anything about the striker position would be the cheap, easy option.
Now United are forced into making a move. One could be to really push to sign an elite young striker. Yes, we are looking at you, Erling Haaland.
Another, second route United could take would be to sign a young striker promising striker like Patson Daka, Haaland’s RB Salzburg successor, and then spending big on a winger like Jadon Sancho.
Cavani would vacate the number seven shirt, which would be part of the attraction for Sancho, having a chance to continue a club legacy.
It always would have been awkward if United signed Sancho and then had to tell Cavani to wear another shirt number. This dilemma would be removed if Cavani leaves.
The third mega deal United could look at would be to bring back Cristiano Ronaldo.
The veteran is currently languishing on an average Juventus team, and still has plenty more to offer, scoring 20 goals in 22 Serie A games this season.
Last month we looked at this in more detail. The attraction of signing a big name would appeal to the board and Ronaldo would be the biggest attraction possible.
Cavani would leave a legacy
Cavani’s spell at United would go down as a partial success even if it lasts just one season. He might even end with a trophy or two.
The legacy Cavani would leave is breaking United’s number seven curse. After Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2009 departure, nobody has been able to live up to the expectations of icons past.
Cavani’s stint in Manchester might be brief, but the short time he has been at the club, he has looked the part. His legacy will be removing some of the pressure around the number seven shirt, and making the task easier for his successor.
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