Edinson Cavani.

Who did Cavani call about his United move?

Friday 09 October 2020 15:44

Edinson Cavani has revealed he made a personal call before accepting the challenge of moving to Manchester United.

The Uruguay idol has been a free agent since leaving Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year, and was pursued by a number of clubs during the transfer window.

As he finalised his decision to start a new chapter of his career in Manchester, he picked up the phone and dialled the number of his former PSG team-mate Ander Herrera, who won our Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year prize in 2017 and became a crowd favourite at Old Trafford.

It was an attempt to back up his gut instinct that the switch to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men was the right move at the right time.

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"I spoke with Ander a lot, as well as other team-mates, like Angel Di Maria, who I was also with at Paris," Cavani told us in a world exclusive interview. “It was genuinely getting to the last minute and I called Ander to have a chat.

“I have a lot of admiration for Ander, for the kind of person he is, and I had the feeling that his words were going to help me out, by telling me a bit about what it was like at United. And so yes, it’s true that after I’d finished talking with Ander, we came to an agreement here with the club.

“I hadn’t known Ander for too long, but we formed and enjoyed a close friendship during that time at PSG, and, today, we are still very good mates.”

Cavani, who will wear the no.7 shirt as he has done previously with Palermo, Napoli and Uruguay, admits there was a lot of interest in his services but he was fascinated by the prospect of a move to England, and United in particular, after scoring goals regularly in Italy and France.

"I was really keen to come here," he said. "I'm very motivated by the idea of joining this great club and so, well, here we are today.

Ander Herrera was a popular figure at Old Trafford, before moving to France.

"Yes, we did have a lot of different options, and these at a time where things aren't easy, neither in sport nor in the world in general," he said. “But I was very attracted by the chance to play in English football, and what’s more, for Manchester United, so that was a really big attraction for me, and a huge motivation too, because I feel that I still have a big desire to compete, to work hard and to give the best of myself.

“Let’s hope that I can be up to the task and can represent this club, and along with everyone, help take it to the top." 

The new season is here. Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available now from United Direct.

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