Uruguay striker’s PSG contract expired in summer
Right-back Diogo Dalot makes loan move to Milan
MIAMI, Fla. (October 10, 2020) — Edinson Cavani travelled to England on Sunday to complete a move to Manchester United. The 33-year-old’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain ran out in June and the Uruguay striker is a free agent, so no fee would be needed. Cavani will join the Red Devils on a one-year contract, with the option to extend for a further 12 months.
Personal terms were agreed to with the player on Saturday. Cavani’s agents are asking for €10 million as part of the deal, a figure that led to potential transfers to SL Benfica and Atlético Madrid collapsing during the summer. Cavani previously was reported to have rejected a move to MLS to Inter Miami.
Cavani was offered to United and other clubs during last week. Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, had been interested in signing Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho. No agreement was reached in light of Dortmund’s valuation of Sancho remaining fixed at €120 million. The red side of Manchester was also looking at Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembélé, but he rejected a loan to the Premier League club.
Cavani thus leaves PSG after seven seasons. He is the capital side’s record goal scorer with 200 goals on 301 appearances. He also helped the Parisiens add an impressive amount of hardware to their trophy cabinet, including six Ligue 1 titles. He has also scored 50 goals in 116 appearances for Uruguay. Prior to joining Paris, Cavani was the key player for Napoli. He also once played for Palermo, a club which has since folded and been replaced with a new team currently in the lower ranks of Italian football.
Since Cavani made his Palermo debut in March 2007, only Lionel Messi (420) and Cristiano Ronaldo (398) have scored more goals in Europe’s top five leagues than the Uruguayan (248).
“Manchester United is one of the greatest clubs in the world, so it is a real honour to be here. I’ve worked really hard during the time off and I feel eager to compete and represent this incredible club,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to write my little story inside the book of football and I know that’s why my focus has to remain the same as always – work, work, work. I have had a conversation with the manager and this has increased my desire to wear this beautiful shirt.”
The striker is expected to get the number 7 shirt (once worn by David Beckham) and he will compete for a starting role with Rashford, Greenwood, and Martial. Cavani and United will face PSG in this season’s Champions League group stage.
Dalot makes loan move to Milan
Also in Man United news, A.C. Milan signed full back Diogo Dalot on a season-long loan deal, the Serie A club announced on Sunday.
Since arriving from Porto in 2018, the Portuguese right back has struggled for first-team opportunities following the arrival of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace last year. Dalot has made 35 appearances and featured in the midweek Carabao Cup win over Brighton.
The 21-year-old becomes the second United player this week to leave for Italy, with midfielder Andreas Pereira having joined Lazio on a season-long loan.
Prior to signing Cavani, the Red Devils had brought in only one new signing so far since the end of last season, with midfielder Donny van de Beek arriving from Ajax Amsterdam.
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Cavani managed 301 appearances for the Parisian side and scored 200 goals. He has also been capped 116 times for his country.
