Manchester United had serious misgivings when they first came forward to single out Edinson Cavani in the closing days of this summer’s move window.
The 33-year-old Uruguayan striker had been playing for more than six months since the coronavirus outbreak began in March.
But there is also an apparent temptation to be able to recruit one of the most productive strikers in the global of the last decade.
United technician Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needed to be convinced that he still wanted to play at the highest point than just get paid for a last day.
He temporarily discovered that Cavani was unwilling to retreat silently and felt he had a reason to leave after he was allowed to leave Paris-Saint Germain.
Two months after the new season, there are more than symptoms that Cavani has been a gamble for Solskjaer.
The Uruguayan would probably have scored only once until now for his new club, but he has already felt his influence far beyond that.
Cavani had to settle for the remaining substitutes until he won his first start against Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League this week and responded by betting a leading role in an impressive 4–1 victory.
For more than two years, Solskjaer has basically used Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in the middle-hit role, but failed to hide his enthusiasm for having a more orthodox striker at his disposal now.
“Edinson is a smart old number nine and we haven’t had him in a while, and I’m very pleased with the way Anthony [Martial] played on the left side again,” Solskjaer said after Tuesday night’s victory.
The martial idea of having resolved the discussion about his most productive position by placing the club’s most sensible goalscorer with 23 purposes last season in a central role, however, his slow start towards the new crusade in which he has yet to mark a league purpose has inevitably awakened.
He noted that Cavani presented a larger focal point opposite Istanbul Basaksehir, and that his consistent movement and direct career carried the marks of a striker who played and prospered at the forefront of the line of attack for more than a decade.
While Rashford and Martial may lack predatory instincts on the six-meter surface, this is Cavani’s domain where he comes to life by tracking the possibilities.
He also does so naturally when he plays on the shoulders of defenders where he can take them out of position with his darts.
And with Martial having an almost unmatched ghost skill of ex flanks, bringing him back will be a horny option.
It would be wonderful to see Solskjaer give Cavani his first Premier League start in Southampton this weekend.
Playing between Martial on the left and Rashford on the right gives United an exciting balance, leaving Mason Greenwood as a replacement factor waiting to disrupt the fatigued defenses.
United enjoyed wonderful good fortune after the summer resumption of the Premier League last season in the game opposite Rashford, Martial and Greenwood, but Solskjaer was aware that he would be too predictable over time and sought to raise anything to give him more options.
The player nominated for this role was, of course, Jadon Sancho, but when United made the decision not to take him away from Borussia Dortmund, he turned to Cavani to give his line of attack somewhat different.
At the time, United were pleased to admit that it was an opportunistic and pragmatic signing, but until now it has also succeeded.
I am an experienced sportsman who, for more than 20 years, has written for more than 80 websites, magazines and newspapers around the world, adding Bleacher Report,
I am an experienced athlete who, for more than 20 years, has written for more than 80 websites, magazines and newspapers around the world, adding Bleacher Report, Esquire, The Times and FourFourTwo. I interviewed many of the most sensitive athletes, adding Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham, George Best and LeBron James, and covered the Premier League, World Cup finals, European Championships, Olympic Games, Champions League and Super Bowl. I have also written several books, including For Club and Country with Gary and Phil Neville and Best XI through Manchester United.