Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani is said to be “closer than ever” to joining Boca Juniors on a free transfer this summer.
The 34-year-old was not the new number that seven fans had expected, but he has been a valuable player since he came on a free transfer. He has scored seven times despite starting just 15 games in all competitions and adding a little depth to an otherwise thin forward line.
He has struggled with injury throughout his time at Old Trafford, but recently missed both legs with AC Milan due to a giggling problem, and both the club and the player have not yet decided whether he will stay in Manchester for a second season.
Day team? … Today’s team? … pic.twitter.com/bjDFKTqW8E
– Edi Cavani Official (@ECavaniOfficial) March 30, 2021
While his first contract expires in June, Cavani’s contract includes an optional second year. From United’s perspective, however, it’s not really that optional: if they decide not to trigger it, they will owe the player a termination fee of around £ 1.75 million … just over two months’ salary.
However, if the player decides to stay in England, he can leave for free. And that’s where Boca Juniors goes into the fray.
Uruguayan has long been linked to a return to South America and his father recently poured fuel on the fire when he claimed that his son ‘is not comfortable’ in England and has had ‘many conversations’ with Riquelme, Boca’s vice president, about a move to Argentina.
And ESPN now reports that a deal is ‘closer than ever’. They cite sources close to the player and say that negotiations are progressing between Riquelme and Cavani, and the possibility of moving becomes “very real”.
Cavani’s one-year contract will end in the summer …
But United want to wait until he has fully recovered from his injury before deciding to extend. ?
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 26 February 2021
This is in direct contrast to what the same outlet reported in response to its father’s claims last month. They then claimed that there had been no ‘negotiations’ between Cavani and Boca, and that he was still far from deciding where his future lay.
In any case, the overall feeling is that no actual decision will be made by either Cavani or United until the season is over. But a stay should not be completely ruled out; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still values the striker’s experience and can still push to keep him in the club for 2021/22.
