EXTENDED STAY FOR CAVANI
‘ROLE MODEL’ EDINSON SIGNS UP FOR ANOTHER YEAR AT OLD TRAFFORD
OLE GUNNAR Solskjaer has sung the praises of Edinson Cavani after the striker signed a one-year contract extension at Manchester United. There had been speculation the Uruguay star could return to South America after struggling to settle in Manchester but he has turned down the chance to sign for Boca Juniors in favour of another term at Old Trafford. Having bagged 15 goals since arriving on a free from Paris Saint-Germain – eight of them in his last seven games – the 34-year-old has agreed to stick around. Cavani, who has helped United to second in the Premier League and with a Europa League final to look forward to, said: ‘Over the season I have developed a great affection for the club and everything it represents.
‘I feel a deep bond with my teammates and the staff who work behind the scenes here. They give me extra motivation and I know that, together, we can achieve special things.’ Solskjaer, in the midst of a fixture pile-up which includes Leicester tonight and Liverpool on Thursday, is delighted to have kept the experienced frontman, both for his goals and the example he sets to others. ‘I said when Edinson signed that he would bring energy, power and leader
Edinson has a winning mentality and an unequivocal attitude to everything he does
ship to this group and I haven’t been proved wrong. He has been everything I thought he would be and more.
‘As coaches, we knew about his goalscoring record. However, it is his personality that has brought so much to this squad. He has a winning mentality and has an unequivocal attitude to everything he does.
‘Edinson is one of the last to leave the training ground and sets the tone for the upcoming youngsters with his approach to his profession every single day.
‘I have always wanted him to stay and experience the way our fans will respond to him as a player, and this means he will hopefully get that opportunity.’
Cavani came off the bench to score in Sunday’s victory over Aston Villa but could still be rested tonight, given United’s glut of fixtures.
Another change is set to be enforced, with Solskjaer last night sweating on the results of the scans on Harry Maguire’s ankle injury which it is feared could keep him out for the rest of the season and possibly England’s Euro 2020 campaign.
The United manager says Amad Diallo, 18, Shola Shoretire, 17 and 19-year-old Anthony Elanga are in contention for a run-out during the fixture pile-up as he looks to manage his squad’s workload.