Edinson Cavani

Edinson Cavani makes United debut

Saturday 24 October 2020 19:35

Manchester United's experienced new striker Edinson Cavani made his first appearance for the club as the Reds were held 0-0 by Chelsea at Old Trafford.

The deadline-day signing came on in the 58th minute as part of a double substitution with Paul Pogba, as the pair replaced Daniel James and Juan Mata, and the change almost paid an instant dividend.
Cavani got across his marker Kai Havertz to connect with Bruno Fernandes's low ball and flicked a shot into the side netting, before turning away in frustration. He knew how close he had come to making an immediate impact in his United career and enlivening a contest that badly needed a goal.

When the Uruguayan's next chance came, the nearest Chelsea defender did more to nullify his threat and it just so happened to be Edinson's former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Thiago Silva. The Brazilian centre-back expertly read Cavani's movement and brilliantly blocked his attempt from the right-hand side of the box, after good approach play by the Reds.

United's no.7 is the third player from Uruguay to represent the Reds, after Diego Forlan (2001-05) and Guillermo Varela (2013-2017), and he could be swiftly followed by a fourth. His countryman and fellow new signing Facundo Pellistri played his first game for the club in the Under-23s' 2-1 win over Everton on Friday night.

CAVANI'S DEBUT IN SIX TWEETS

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