Manchester Evening News

Cavani would benefit from moving closer to home, claims coach

- By LIAM WOOD

EDINSON Cavani has been urged to leave United this summer and sign for Boca Juniors.

The Uruguay striker, 34, who arrived at Old Trafford on a free transfer at the start of the season, has yet to tie-up his long-term future with the Reds.

Indeed, the former Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain frontman has constantly been linked with another move of late – less than a year on from arriving.

In a shock statement made by Cavani’s father earlier this month, it was claimed the veteran is unhappy at United as he continues to seek out a return to South America.

Cavani Snr said: “My son does not feel comfortabl­e in England and wants to be close to the family again. Edinson is going to end up playing in South America.

“Edinson had many conversati­ons with (Juan) Riquelme (the Boca Juniors second vice-president) and he would like to play for Boca.”

Despite moving to rebuff those claims with a social media post of his own, Cavani has once again been linked with Argentine side Boca – in a switch that would ‘benefit the national team’.

Speaking to 2 De Punta, Mario Rebollo, assistant to Uruguay’s head coach Oscar Tabarez, said: “It helps the national team if Cavani goes to Boca or wherever.

“The priority is that he plays where he is comfortabl­e and with a good competitiv­e level. If he’s close to here it’d be great, but if he’s not

comfortabl­e he would not bear it much.

“It would be good for us if Cavani plays where he feels most comfortabl­e.

“It makes no difference to me if it’s Boca or another place, where he’s better.

“We have to have him with rhythm and competitio­n.”

Having made his internatio­nal debut in 2008, Cavani has scored 51 goals in 118 appearance­s for Uruguay – and helped them win the Copa America in 2011.

He’s not currently on internatio­nal duty, though, after World Cup qualifiers scheduled to be played in South America and Africa were postponed due to travel restrictio­ns brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

 ??  ?? Edinson Cavani has been linked with a move to Argentina
Edinson Cavani has been linked with a move to Argentina

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