Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Club chief sends reminder of Man Utd star’s transfer dream after lengthy contact

Edinson Cavani talks to Man Utd team-mate David de Gea 2021

Edinson Cavani made contact with Boca Juniors as far back as January and the Argentine club are still hopeful of luring the Manchester United forward, one of their officials has revealed.

Cavani has been a Man Utd player since the summer of 2020, when they snapped him up following his release by Paris Saint-Germain. In his debut season in English football, the striker scored 17 goals in 39 games.

But there were doubts about his future after just one year, due to his contract expiring. Eventually, he decided to commit for another season.

It was a sigh of relief for United, who had genuine fears that he could have returned to South America. Boca Juniors wanted to take the Uruguay international to Argentina and he was considering the move.

In fact, the temptation of joining the Buenos Aires outfit existed even before the summer – and may in future – according to their club legend and vice-president Juan Roman Riquelme has revealed.

“In January, Cavani called me saying that he wanted to come because he was playing little there,” Riquelme told TNT Sports in quotes that have been translated on Sport Witness.

“I’ve been speaking with him for a long time and he called me in January to come because he wasn’t playing there.

“I remember we talked one day and the next day he came in and scored two goals in the last minutes. He made a comeback.

“From then on he started scoring goals in all the games and they renewed with him.”

Pogba shouldn't be considering Man Utd stay

Pogba shouldn't be considering Man Utd stay

With the state of Man Utd as they are right now, Paul Pogba should not be considering staying past his current contract.

But Cavani has faced some struggles for gametime in the early weeks of the new season. The return of Cristiano Ronaldo has complicated his chances of a regular starting berth.

They recently showed they can be deployed alongside one another, though. Therefore, Cavani could get more chances in the weeks ahead.

But Boca are retaining hope that he will follow his heart to join them.

“He called me in January to see if he was able to come,” Riquelme continued. “That’s when I realised that he wants to play for our club.

“Hopefully at some point we’ll be lucky enough to see him celebrate a goal at La Bombonera, which is what he dreams of happening.”

United urged to make most of Cavani

Manchester United's Edison Cavani reacts after scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Fulham FC

There have been some rumours of Cavani leaving Man Utd in January.

But his recent return to prominence may be giving them second thoughts and one pundit wants them to utilise him to the maximum.

“If you play Cavani, you will see results,” Frank McAvennie told Football Insider recently.

“Cavani is a great striker, I have been saying this for weeks. He needs to be starting.

“It’s one of the reasons I have been questioning Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer]. It’s so obvious to me.

“The whole thing is shocking, Cavani should be in there every game.

“He scored bags of goals last season and he has just been sat on the bench for most of this season.

“Just play your best players. I don’t get why Man United are relying on players who are unproven.

“Some of the lads who have been playing are very talented but they lack the experience of Cavani.

“He scores goals, it’s what he does. Start him and you will see results.”

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