Writing these kinds of pieces is always challenging for a writer because it is not easy to judge what should be the ceiling or the terms based on which a player’s maiden start for his club would be marked as ‘a dream debut’.
It is very hard to decide whether a Daniel James-esque performance in his first match against Chelsea last season (he scored a goal after coming off the bench) or a Bruno Fernandes-esque performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers last January (he was the most influential player for the Reds that night) should be considered ‘a dream debut’.
In both aforementioned cases, the debutants were fantastic and played a big role in salvaging something for the Red Devils.
United completed a deal on the deadline day of the bygone summer transfer window for the former PSG striker Edinson Cavani – who was a free agent before the happy announcement.
According to reports, despite United having secured his signature for free, Cavani would earn around £200,000-a-week, which is controversial but reasonable, considering the Uruguayan’s adorable attributes and glorious past.
The scorer of 200 goals (from 301 matches) for PSG and 104 (from 138) for Napoli, Cavani promises goals under his name at United.
But whether that comes from that so-called ‘dream debut’ or not remains to be seen.
So, to make the situation better and understandable, we would divide the debatable aspects, which is whether Edinson Cavani could make a dream debut or not, into two parts and then let you decide at which end you would choose to end up.
Yes
After United signed Cavani, many questioned which shirt number will he wear at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
At that instance, United didn’t think twice to hand him over the illustrious No. 7 shirt, previously worn by the Mancunian greats such as Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Since the departure of Ronaldo, whoever has had put on the sacred number on his back — whether that be Angel Di Maria to Memphis Depay or Alexis Sanchez — things haven’t had gone in the desired way.
Hence, United have tried to burn down the curse this time, having handed it to a proven striker or center-forward rather than an out-and-out winger.
Just having the No. 7 behind his shirt is not the only reason he could get a ‘dream debut’.
We should also keep the fact in our mind that he hasn’t had played any competitive football over last seven months and did sustain multiple injuries last season.
Plus, there were also talks of him getting retired from professional football after leaving PSG. So there should be a rejuvenated hunger working inside him, and he should be feeling the push of adrenaline ahead of his comeback to competitive football.
There must be an appetite to prove those questioning over his professionalism and abilities wrong.
There would obviously be a desire to perform for a new boss, in front of the new teammates, for a new club, and in a new competition.
And considering all these, there won’t be a better stage to accomplish those purposes than that of the very first one for Edinson Cavani and Manchester United.
No
Although the signing of Edinson Cavani — one of the proven, lethal strikers in the world — was encouraging and something very few would have expected from United’s point of view at the start of the window, the last-minute arrival of the veteran smells odd.
Had he been in the plans of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his management team from the beginning, he would have come earlier in the transfer window as he was a free-agent after all.
And it is only the timing that makes the deal look like a panic buy.
As a result of signing him so late in the market, he missed out of the Premier League game against Newcastle United and missed the PSG game due to lack of match fitness, having self-isolated himself for 14 days under the coronavirus measures.
In the absence of Martial, who is serving the three-match ban in the domestic circuit, Cavani could have played the match against Newcastle and well be fit to start for Chelsea this weekend.
But now, it seems as if he would only make the bench for the clash against the Blues on Saturday.
And if he comes up as a very lucky individual, Solskjaer could hand him his maiden start off the bench
As mentioned earlier, having missed the last seven months away from the competitive scene, he would certainly take some time to put him into the pace of the game and warm up the body.
And if the luck tickles again, he might get one chance or two to score.
Many believe that Cavani, now at 33, might have lost his velocity and atrocity in front of the goal. In that case, circumstances would come worse than you are currently imagining.
Now, what is your pick?
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