Edinson Cavani Reveals Why He Turned Down Juventus & Inter Prior to Man Utd Move

Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani has admitted that he turned down offers from Juventus and Inter prior to making the switch to Old Trafford in October.

Cavani became a free agent in June when he left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract without agreeing a temporary extension that would have covered the Champions League finals mini-tournament in Lisbon – like Thiago Silva did.

Cavani joined Man Utd on a free transfer in October 2020

The veteran Uruguayan, who has scored over 300 club goals in the last 10 years alone, eventually signed with United on transfer deadline in early October.

But he seemingly had the opportunity to return to Serie A too, where he had previously made his name with Palermo and later Napoli. But it was out of respect to the latter that he turned down contracts from Italy’s biggest clubs in the end.

Napoli was where Cavani first found his feet as a prolific goalscorer, getting 30 goals in a season for the first time in his first year with the club in 2010/11. He scored 104 times in 138 appearances in total, before PSG paid in excess of €60m to buy him in the summer of 2013.

Cavani made his name as a goalscorer at Napoli

“I will always be grateful to [Napoli fans]. It is for this reason that I said no to many Italian clubs including Juventus, who called me often, and also Inter,” Cavani told Mondo Napoli.

“I couldn't make such a gesture to the Neapolitans. If I think of Napoli I think of joy, because I know that I have done so much for them and they continue to pay homage to me with all this.”

Prior to winding up at Old Trafford in Manchester, Cavani had also been close to joining Atletico Madrid – a January transfer collapsed and he was also linked again in summer – and Benfica.

Since joining United, Cavani has been a hit. Despite his age, the 33-year-old has shown he has the physical capabilities to thrive in the Premier League, scoring twice in a comeback win against Southampton in late November. He has, however, picked up an injury since and remains a doubt for this weekend’s crunch Manchester derby against Manchester City.