Edinson Cavani leaves Manchester United this summer after a two-year spell at Old Trafford which featured several spectacular goals.
The Uruguayan arrived as one of the European leagues' greatest strikers, world-renowned for his exploits at Napoli in Serie A and Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. In his first season at United, he scored 17 times.
In our farewell interview with Cavani, he reflects on the most significant goals of his time here. Read every word below…
“Yes, I remember it and look back on it fondly because it really was a bit like the beginning of my adventure here at United. And to grab the goal that also put the seal on an away win was pretty important and so I can remember it very clearly.”
29 NOVEMBER 2020 v SOUTHAMPTON
You put down a marker as a sub at Southampton with an assist and two goals. It reminded fans of former great strikers like van Persie, van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer and Cole. Was that a big day for you?
“That game against Southampton was a special one because we were behind and I got the chance to come on and provide an assist and then go on to score twice. Those kind of things don’t tend to happen so regularly in football. They’re quite rare and so you really enjoy them. Because aside from everything else, when they also bring with them a win, that always adds that bit extra to the moment and the experience.”
23 DECEMBER 2020 v EVERTON
Another one against Everton, could this be one of your best goals for us? Tell us about it…
“Yes, in terms of technique, it was a lovely goal. It was a vital one too, because it was still 0-0 at the time, and we were able to open the scoring with that goal. But yes, I think it was one of the nicest goals I’ve managed to score here at United. I can remember a few other nice ones too that were quite special, like the last goal of last season against Fulham, here at home, that was a very good one too. And also against… no, let’s just say that I’ve been lucky enough to score some beautiful goals in my time here at United.”
11 APRIL 2021 v TOTTENHAM
You had a goal disallowed in that game against Tottenham. And then got your revenge with this diving header…
“That’s why I was saying that there have been quite a few lovely goals in my spell in Manchester. This one was really nice, also for the importance of the game and what it meant for us to win. Initially we thought we’d gone ahead in the game, but they disallowed the goal, and a few minutes after that, we conceded with a goal from Son, which put us behind. But then we were able to turn the game around and win quite comfortably in the end. The victory was really down to the very good football we played, our hard work, and the character we showed. So it was a highly enjoyable game. I scored a lovely goal which more than made up for what had happened in the first half, absolutely!”
And it was a typical Cavani goal too…
“I always say that one of the really key features for strikers, I think, is that instinct or sixth sense. You just keep reading the game and the move that is developing. Based on that, you then pick the right moment to get into the box, and mostly for that type of goal, you have to be really intuitive and make your move or your run at just the right moment. And that’s what happened, and it was a beautiful goal.”
29 APRIL 2021 v ROMA
This was a great European night, with two great goals for you. But it needed the fans there for such a big night, didn't it?
“One of the things that has left me with a slightly bitter taste is that when we had a highly enjoyable and pretty decent [2020/21] season, we weren’t able to have the supporters along with us. And now, this season, with the fans coming back into the grounds and stadiums, I haven’t really been able to have the kind of campaign, if I’m being honest, on a personal front that I would really have liked. Where I would have been able to score the kind of goals I did last season, and then be celebrating them a bit more with the fans - the kind of stuff that it’s great for a forward or a striker to be doing.”

Cavani celebrates during United's 6-2 win against AS Roma in April 2021.
18 MAY 2021 v FULHAM
And now, maybe the best goal of your time here…
“Yes, I think so. I touched on that goal a little before. I think it’s the most spectacular goal that I managed to score here at United. But like we were saying just before, there weren’t that many fans there. A reduced amount of them in the stadium really, which is a small figure for the size of Old Trafford. They are moments and things that happen in life. The way things can go
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