Cavani reveals Man United what a No. 9 can do, however will he proceed to fill the function past this season?

LONDON – Edinson Cavani is 34 years old, has no contract at the end of the season and, according to Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, “still wants time to decide” whether to stay with the club. In a 3-1 win at Tottenham on Sunday, the Uruguayan striker showed why he is not allowed to leave.

Unless United are able to surprise everyone by signing Erling Haaland, Harry Kane or a similarly world-class player this summer, they should take their time in persuading Cavani to stay. Because Cavani was head and shoulders above the English captain on a day he was the same spot with Spurs striker Kane to produce a mid-range master class.

He scored one goal, made another hit, and had ruled out a glorious first-half goal following the recent VAR controversy over the Premier League. This incident resulted in a verbal clash between Solskjaer and his opponent Jose Mourinho after the game.

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But although he was visibly angry about referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision to ban his goal in the 34th minute after a controversial foul by Scott McTominay on Spurs striker Son Heung-Min, he said: “We weren’t cheated on that It was the referee, “said Solskjaer. Cavani’s experience enabled him to use the feeling of injustice as a motivation rather than a distraction.

His movement and pace of work, his willingness to pull defenders out of position to make room for others, and most importantly, his predatory instincts in the box were key elements for a match-winning performance as he drove his team to arguably their best result 45-minute performance under the direction of Solskjaer.

Cavani scored the first goal for Fred, who canceled Son’s 40th-minute opener by forcing Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris to shove a tied attempt in the midfielder’s path while the goal his performance deserved fell in the 79th minute when Cavani hit a stunning header from Mason Greenwood’s cross.

And before Greenwood scored United’s third goal in stoppage time to claim victory, Cavani held the lead with a header that refused to equalize Moussa Sissoko and ricocheted off his own team’s post. Cavani’s reaction at the final whistle, when he hit the air and clenched both fists, was that of a man who felt he had proven a point, but can United keep it?

Edinson Cavani scored his eighth goal for Manchester United at Tottenham. Getty

His future at Old Trafford is a complex one. The free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain has had intermittent fitness issues since arriving last October. He remains upset about the three-game ban and £ 100,000 fine imposed by the English Football Association in December for an Instagram classified as racist Post.

There were some major contributions to the United States cause ahead of Sunday – Cavani was equally inspiring with a November victory at Southampton – but difficulty adjusting to life in England due to severe COVID-19 restrictions added to that he could possibly return south to America for the final years of his career.

“For a new boy who doesn’t speak English and doesn’t have his family here, of course it’s in the back of your mind,” said Solskjaer after the game. “If he decides it’s just the season we would be very happy to have him here.

“We had open and honest meetings, there is no secret we want to keep him. He knows what we want. I want him to be at Old Trafford while Stretford End is full and scores a header like today. So there is no better feeling. ” let’s wait and see.

Solskjaer added that Cavani’s performance was unlike what United had had for a while from a # 9 prototype, acknowledging what he couldn’t do without: a striker of true quality. Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial give the team attacking flair and goals, but none of them can be described as outstanding leaders like Cavani, Kane or Haaland.

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Those who are at the top for United next season are hoping Paul Pogba is still at the club to build on his evolving partnership with Bruno Fernandes. Since Pogba returned from a six-week injury hiatus last month, he’s been an influential attacking force working with Fernandes and the pair can be a dangerous one-two if they stay together.

With Pogba entering the final year of his contract after this season, his future is uncertain, but this win has brought United at least one step closer to confirming Champions League qualification – they are nine points off fifth in Chelsea – and it will being that way makes it easier to keep the French World Cup winner.

For Spurs, the defeat means that they are six points behind the pace in the top 4 race and have difficulty getting back in Europe’s most important competition: “You look at the table and see the distance to the top 4. You know, that it is difficult, but it is mathematically possible, “Mourinho admitted.

In order to reach the Champions League, Tottenham cannot afford to lose any more points after taking the lead. Even if they solve a problem that has cost them countless times this season, it might already be too late. Questions will inevitably follow what this means for Kane’s future, which serves as another reminder that an accomplished number 9 is priceless.