Real Madrid enter Cavani race - what this means for Barca and Man Utd
Martin Macdonald
- Updated: 30 Sept 2021 13:35 BST
- 6 min read
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will look to bolster the team's attack with a swoop for Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani in January.
According to a report from El Nacional, Perez was keen in bringing in attacking reinforcements in the summer only for Carlo Ancelotti to decide he was happy with his current squad.
Throughout the transfer window, Real Madrid pursued Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe and even allegedly bid €200 million for the World Cup winner on deadline day.
That deal didn't materalise as PSG refused to negotiate despite Mbappe's contract running out in 2022.
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With Real Madrid likely to sign him on a free transfer next summer, they will not look for any big-money recruits in January, but more a loan deal to provide an extra body up front.
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Radamel Falcao have been mentioned, but Madrid believe Cavani is the best option as he would be the most readily available.
The Uruguayan extended his stay at Man Utd in the summer, no doubt believing he would be the club's number one striker, but he has lost that status to the returning Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cavani has struggled with injury in the opening portion of the season, but now that he and Ronaldo are both fit, it will be up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to decide who gets the nod up top.
If Ronaldo is selected most frequently, which he undoubtedly will be, then Cavani could seek a move away from Old Trafford for game time.
It is possible that he could move to Real Madrid for six months and then move back to South America as he has stated that is his intention at some point.
What would that mean for Man Utd?
Losing Cavani without replacing him would have been unthinkable for Man Utd in the summer but the surprise return of Ronaldo has certainly put the former PSG striker in the shadows.
The Red Devils have a plethora of attacking options now, with Ronaldo and Cavani joined by Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial.
It would not be a total disaster if Cavani was allowed to leave but Ronaldo can't be relied upon the way he once was and should be become injured, an adequate replacement would be needed, of which Martial has proved he is not.
What would that mean for Barcelona?
Barcelona are in desperate, desperate need of reinforcements as highlighted by their recent 3-0 humbling away at Benfica in the Champions League.
The signing of Sergio Aguero has proved to be a disaster so far as he is yet to play a single minute due to an injury suffered pre-season, which has left Ronald Koeman with Martin Braithwaite and Luuk de Jong as his central number nines.
Even if Aguero becomes available there are no guarantees he will stay fit so an upgrade on Braithwaite and De Jong is required.
Cavani has been mooted as a potential target in the Spanish press, but should Real Madrid come calling it would, unfortunately for Barca, be a no brainer to choose Los Blancos at the moment.
