Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urges Edinson Cavani to stay at Man Utd

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged veteran striker Edinson Cavani to stay at Old Trafford for another season and hopes that Thursday night’s 6-2 thrashing of Roma in the Europa League semi-final first leg will sway the Uruguayan.

Cavani, who has become a fan favourite since his free transfer arrival in October, scored twice in the game to take his goal tally for the season to 12, while also assisting two others.

His contract is due to expire at the end of the season. But while there is an option to extend that deal for another year until 2022, Cavani has been heavily linked with Boca Juniors. His own father has even claimed that he has been ‘uncomfortable’ in England and is interested in Boca.

90min understands that Cavani is yet to make up his mind either way, with Solskjaer hoping that Thursday night’s performance and the prospect of fans returning to Old Trafford next season will help sway him.

“I’m delighted with him. You can see the difference in him when he’s worked on his fitness. He’s making up for lost time, it looks like,” Solskjaer explained, via ManUtd.com.

“He was out for seven months and had not played for a long time before he came. He had injuries but worked hard, showed his quality. He knows I’d love to have him for another year.

“I understand it’s been very difficult for him. I’ve promised him Old Trafford and Manchester is a different place with fans in it. He must try to get that feeling that Manchester is a good place to live. I’m doing my best. Hopefully, nights like this help him see himself here for another year.”

United still need another striker for the long-term but Cavani has helped delay that. In what stands to be a carefully calculated summer transfer window, the club also still want a right winger and Old Trafford officials believe their best option to address those attacking needs ahead of next season is to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund and for Cavani to stay.

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