Yahoo Finance Will Edinson Cavani stay for the real Manchester United experience?
Cavani starred at Tottenham
(Manchester United via Getty Images)Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes Manchester United can convince Edinson Cavani to stay for another year following the striker’s starring role in Sunday’s 3-1 win at Tottenham.
Cavani controversially saw a goal ruled out via VAR during the first half of United’s trip to north London on Sunday, with Scott McTominay adjudged to have fouled Heung-min Son during the build-up.
The decision by referee Chris Kavanagh denied Cavani a well-taken goal off a fine Paul Pogba pass, while Spurs were soon ahead as Son of all people struck to send the hosts into half-time a goal up.
But United and Cavani were to have the last laugh, with the Uruguayan playing a role in every goal from then on.
Cavani forced a close-range save off Hugo Lloris from which Fred equalised 57 minutes in, and the striker then put United in front 11 minutes from time with a trademark diving header off Mason Greenwood’s cross after finding space in behind Jose Mourinho’s defence.
Cavani also laid off the ball off for Pogba to find Greenwood for the third United goal to wrap up an impressive victory which cements second place in the table.
It is unclear whether Cavani will remain at United beyond the end of the season: he has the option of a further year at Old Trafford, but is said to be missing his family in South America and could return to the continent this summer to finish his career there.
Solskjaer is adamant he wants the 34-year-old to remain a United player, and says it would be a shame were Cavani to leave without experiencing a full crowd at Old Trafford celebrating goals like the one he scored against Spurs.
“Fantastic performance, we are awaiting his decision if he wants to stay or wants to move on,” Solskjaer said. “A performance like today we as a club have missed for a few years, we have not had that number nine for a long, long spell.
“Edinson has been working so hard to get fit and we can see the boys played to his strengths as well.
“We have had open and honest meetings and it’s no secret we want to keep him. I don’t think it is any secret that this has been a difficult year for everyone.
“With the pandemic, it has not been possible to have friends over, you can’t have family over without quarantine. He has not been able to experience the fantastic culture of Manchester and England and he is contemplating and thinking long and hard about what he wants to do.
“I understand. He knows what we want, I want him at Old Trafford in front of a full Stretford End scoring a header like today. Let’s wait and see.”
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