Manchester United's experienced striker Edinson Cavani recently signed a one-year contract extension that will hold him at the club through June 2022. Despite a sluggish start to the season, the Uruguayan striker has picked up the pace in recent weeks, but it would be an underestimate to say he has given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a different choice moving ahead – what he missed with Anthony Martial upfront.
Though Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba are consistently beating expectations in the middle of the park, it is Cavani who's supplying the final product. His movement in or around the box is clearly out of this dimension for a 34-year-old who's been competing at the highest level for about 20 years. It's not just about his objectives; it's about what he provides in the process consistently. He has an impressive range of options moving forward, whether it's dropping deep to allow Fernandes to press forward, attracting attackers to build channels for the wide-men, or finishing off the one opportunity that comes his way – he can do it all. Furthermore, he understands how to time his runs into the box or extend the opposing defensive line to create more room for his mates, demonstrating his level of expertise.
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Though his efforts on the field are critical, his impact on the younger players is equally important. Cavani's involvement on the training ground has a big impact on young players like Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford, who are learning from the coach. There are certain items that money simply cannot purchase, and it is one of them.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was heard saying, “I said when Edinson signed that he would bring energy, power and leadership to this group, and I haven’t been proved wrong; he has been everything I thought he would be and more.”
“As coaches, we knew about his goal-scoring record. However, it is his personality that has brought so much to this squad; he has a winning mentality and has an unequivocal attitude to everything he does.”
“Edinson is one of the last to leave the training ground and sets the tone for the upcoming youngsters with his approach to his profession every single day. I have always wanted him to stay and experience the way our fans will respond to him as a player, and this means he will hopefully get that opportunity.”
Furthermore, the board now will change their goals in the forthcoming transfer window due to the Uruguayan international's extended stay. It could pave the way for the signing of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
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