Manchester United have completed the signing of striker Edinson Cavani on a free transfer, the club announced on Monday. Cavani has signed a two-year deal at Old Trafford, while both the club and player have the option to break the agreement after one year.
The move comes a day after the club’s humiliating 6-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League.
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Cavani had been a free agent following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season after seven years at the club. United turned down the chance to sign him in January after being put off by his wage demands of £360,000 per week. After leaving PSG, he had been offered to a string of top European clubs before United stepped up their interest last week.
? El Matador has arrived.
Old Trafford is waiting for you, @ECavaniOfficial! ?#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 5, 2020
United are next in action away at Newcastle on Oct. 17, and Cavani has the chance to face former club PSG in the Champions League three days later.
“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,” Cavani said a statement released by the club.
“I have played in front of some of the most passionate supporters in football during my career and I know that it will be the same in Manchester. I cannot wait to experience the Old Trafford atmosphere, when it is safe for the fans to return.
“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 33-year-old arrives with a résumé that includes being PSG’s all-time record scorer with 200 goals in 301 appearances and six Ligue 1 titles among a haul of 19 trophies at the club. With 50 goals in 116 caps for Uruguay, Cavani also won the 2011 Copa America with his country.
Sources told ESPN his wages will be significantly lower than his demands in January, and the agent fees involved in the deal will be lower than €10 million. Sources added that United do not have concerns about Cavani’s age and hope he will be able to have a similar impact to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored 17 Premier League goals in 33 games after joining in 2016, and will provide extra cover once Odion Ighalo‘s loan ends in January.
Cavani’s arrival on deadline day is the latest twist in what has been a tumultuous summer of transfer activity at United. Jadon Sancho had been the club’s No. 1 target, but Borussia Dortmund have remained firm in their insistence that he would not be sold. Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona and Sevilla FC‘s Lucas Ocampos were also considered.
However, the club did announce the deadline-day signings of Brazilian left-back Alex Telles from Porto, as well as Uruguayan youngster Facundo Pellistri from Penarol on a five-year contract.
Sources told ESPN on Sunday that Porto agreed to move Telles to United for £13.6m.
In addition, United secured the signature for Atalanta winger Amad Diallo in January. The 18-year-old has played only 25 minutes for Atalanta in Serie A, but United are keen to sign the young winger for a fee worth in the region of £18.2 million plus £9.1m in add-ons, sources have told ESPN.
United also parted ways with Chris Smalling, permanently sending the defender back to AS Roma after he had spent last season there on loan. Smalling had been with United for 10 seasons.
