Edinson Cavani saved Manchester United a fortune in the transfer market this summer by signing a one-year contract extension at Old Trafford on Monday.
The Uruguay star looked set to leave England after just eight months and return to South America with Boca Juniors, but he has been persuaded to stay at United for another season.
Keeping Cavani — who has scored eight goals in his last seven games and 15 in total — will take the pressure off United to buy a world-class striker.
They have been linked with Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund, who would both cost around £100million at a time when the club’s finances have been severely hit by the pandemic.
But Cavani has not come cheap, with United understood to have offered the 34-year-old a rise on his £200,000-a-week wages.
The former Paris Saint-Germain striker had sought assurances over his first-team opportunities, so the new deal suggests United will not be bringing in another striker.
‘After so many years of playing all over Europe, being away from my close-knit family back home in Uruguay, I had kind of promised myself that I would return,’ said Cavani.
‘But because of the love that has been shown by the fans, everyone within the club and my team-mates, we decided that we would put on hold going back to our family and parents.
‘I have been really moved by the lads in the dressing room saying, “Edi, you can’t go, stay, we love you, we don’t want you to leave”. That does give you that extra motivation to want to stay somewhere.
‘I’ve not yet been able to play in front of the Old Trafford crowd and that is something that I cannot wait to do.’
That could happen as early as next Tuesday with United set to welcome 10,000 fans back to Old Trafford for their game against Fulham.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: ‘I said when Edinson signed that he would bring energy, power and leadership to this group.
‘He has been everything I thought he would be and more.’
COMMENTS