Man Utd hopes lifted after Solskjaer favourite advised to stay put

Edinson Cavani TEAMtalk

Manchester United may well get their hands on Edinson Cavani for another season after the striker was reportedly advised to stay in Europe.

Cavani, 34, has defied his veteran status at Old Trafford this season and scored his eighth goal of the season in the win at Tottenham at the weekend. He also dubiously had another goal chalked off after a Scott McTominay foul in the build-up. There’s no doubt United want to keep the No. 9 and Ole Gunnar Solskkaer has admitted as much.

Asked whether Cavani will stay, Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “That’s up to Edi. He knows my feelings, I know his feelings. He’s not made up his mind yet.

“I understand it’s been a difficult year for everyone. But for a new lad that doesn’t speak English and not to feel the English culture, to go and see people, to have friends around, it’s in the back of your head if this is what you want. You can’t have your family over.

“Fingers crossed but if he decides it’s just this season we’ve been fortunate to have him here.”

It now appears the forward has sought the advice of Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez. And, according to Depo (via Sport Witness), Tabarez has advised Cavani to stay in Europe.

The 74-year-old coach reportedly believes Cavani would be better off playing in Europe until at least until the World Cup. That takes place in November/December 2022 in Qatar.

The report claims Cavani would be “more empowered” in Europe, where he has played his football since 2007.

United are hoping to exercise a 12-month option on his contract with “a high economic offer”.

 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: The game is gone

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: The game is gone

After beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in the Premier League, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wasn't willing to discuss refereeing decisions. During the match, his side was denied a goal by VAR for a foul by Scott McTominay in the build-up, suggesting Heung-min Son conned the referee.

 

The feeling from Argentina is that Boca Juniors are set to find it increasingly difficult to land Cavani. They are hoping to lure the former Danubio man on a free transfer this summer.

Last month Football Insider reported that the former Paris Saint-Germain ace had agreed to join Boca. He was said to have held ‘extensive talks’ with the club’s vice-president Juan Roman Riquelme and agreed a deal ‘in principle’.

Cavani was banned for three matches on New Year’s Eve for using a racial term in a social media post.

The player replied to a message congratulating him for his match-winning display against Southampton. But he used the Spanish word ‘negrito’ in the post.


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Cavani ban

The word translates as ‘little black person’. It is commonly used as a term of endearment in Uruguay, and other Spanish-speaking countries.

The FA determined the post was “insulting, abusive, improper and brought the game into disrepute”.

Cavani deleted the post “as soon as it was explained that it can be interpreted differently” and apologised.

United stressed there was no racist intent behind the post. They said Cavani had chosen to not contest the charge “out of respect for, and solidarity with, the FA and the fight against racism in football”.

That did not stop the Uruguayan football players’ association speaking out on Cavani’s behalf in a lengthy statement that is highly critical of the FA and its “arbitrary conduct”.

It read: “Far from condemning racism, the English Football Association has itself committed a discriminatory act against the culture and way of life of the Uruguayan people.”

READ MORE: Repeated Solskjaer snub leaves major Mourinho signing craving Man Utd exit