Boca Juniors chief confirms Edinson Cavani wanted January move

Boca Juniors vice-president Juan Roman Riquelme has confirmed that Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani wanted to leave Old Trafford in January.

A high-profile free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2020, Cavani initially played a reserve role at United and made just 13 Premier League starts in his debut season, with Anthony Martial dominating the minutes in attack.

Towards the end of last season, rumours emerged suggesting Cavani was tired of his limited role at Old Trafford and longed for a move to Boca, and Riquelme has now revealed he discussed a transfer during a conversation he had with the Uruguay striker back in January.

"In January, Cavani called me saying that he wanted to join Boca because he wasn't playing much there," Riquelme told TNT Sports. "I've been speaking with him for a long time and he called me in January to come because he wasn't playing there.

"I remember we talked one day, and then the next day he came in to the side and scored two goals in the last minutes. He made a comeback.

"From then on, he started scoring goals in all his games and they renewed his contract."

Riquelme appears to be mentioning the 3-2 victory over Southampton back towards the end of November 2020, in which Cavani came off the bench at half-time with United 2-0 down and changed the game completely, bagging an assist and two late goals to earn the victory.

That form earned him more appearances towards the end of the 2020/21 season, but this year he has struggled for opportunities following the summer signing of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cavani has just two starts in all competitions to his name this season, but he did score when given the nod alongside Ronaldo in the recent 3-0 victory over Tottenham.

Now approaching 35 years old, Cavani will find himself out of contract in the summer and will clearly have a decision to make. Not being a regular starter is an obvious problem for the striker, who could choose to move on in search of first-team football.


Source : 90min