Edinson Cavani is back on the market after his transfer negotiations with Benfica were abandoned due to the striker’s excessive wage demands. Cavani wanted a three-year contract worth €10m-a-season (£8.8m) which was out of reach for Benfica. [souce-Daily Mail]
Benfica’s director of football Rui Costa clarified the situation yesterday, telling A Bola:
“Everyone knows that Benfica were interested in Cavani, we proposed him, but that ball is no longer in our court.
“We ended our part in the negotiations because we can’t do more than we have already done.”
He added: “This matter is completely closed on our side. I don’t want to give the impression of having reopened anything, because we are not going to reopen.”
“It was not possible, so we will create other solutions. We cannot now think of things that are not possible.”
The Uruguayan forward is once again a free agent after letting his contract at PSG run down, bringing an end to a seven-year stay at the Parc des Princes.
Manchester United were linked with him in January when he handed in a transfer request, but a deal could not be reached and the Red Devils ended up singing Odion Ighalo on loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua instead.
Now, Manchester United have another opportunity to sign the free agent.
Former Manchester United player Louis Saha urged the club to make a move for Cavani too.
United looked hopeless in the attack last season when Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were sidelined. Ighalo’s loan expires in January 2021. 18-year-old Mason Greenwood shouldn’t be given the load of the entire team. Someone like Cavani could help but his wages and age remain a concern.
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