Rangnick ‘desperate’ for Cavani to remain at Man Utd & offers future hope to Van de Beek
Edinson Cavani has been informed by interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick that the club “desperately want him to stay” and see out his contract, with exit talk continuing to rage around the experienced Uruguayan.
Various landing spots for a 34-year-old frontman have been mooted, with leading sides in Spain and Italy said to be keen on adding a proven performer to their respective ranks.
Cavani has, however, shown across 18 months at Old Trafford that he can be a useful asset for the Red Devils – with 19 goals recorded through 49 appearances – and Rangnick is reluctant to part with a player of such pedigree before he hits free agency in the summer.
What has been said?
United’s German tactician has said of his immediate plans for Cavani: “We have had quite a few conversations over the last couple of weeks, probably the player with whom I have spoken the most.
“I told him from the very first day he is a highly important player, he is probably the only one who can play as a striker back to goal and face to goal. And as I said, his professionalism and his work ethic is just amazing.
“I told him that I desperately want him to stay and stay until the end of the season, and he knows that. He knows how highly I rate him and how highly I respect him.”
Who else does Rangnick want?
Anthony Martial is pushing for a winter move away from Manchester, with Rangnick confirming that the France international forward has expressed a desire to move on after finding regular game time hard to come by.
Donny van de Beek is another that has been struggling for minutes, but the Netherlands international midfielder has been assured by his current coach that there is a role for him in a star-studded squad.
Rangnick said of a playmaker that is still searching for a spark in English football and the words of advice he would offer to a talented 24-year-old: “Just work hard. So far, as I have got to know him, he has got a top mentality.
“He works hard in every training session. He is a team player through and through. There will be games where he will get his chance to play, I am sure.
“I also had a long conversation with him last week about that and again, of course it is difficult for him right now because he also wants to play for the Dutch national team, he wants to qualify for himself and play in the World Cup in Qatar and in order to do that he needs to get game time here.
“But I still believe we should keep him, and he should stay here, definitely until the end of this season and try to get as much game time as he possibly can.”
United’s first outing of 2022 is set to see them play host to Wolves on Monday.