Edinson Cavani has agreed to stay with Manchester United for another year, giving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a major boost as he prepares for next season.

The Uruguay international, 34, is coming towards the end of a debut season in English football in which he has hit peak goalscoring form at precisely the right time. But, while recent weeks appeared to have improved the chances of Cavani remaining at Old Trafford for a second season, it was still uncertain whether he would commit to another campaign.

Yesterday the club confirmed that a one-year extension in Cavani’s contract had been triggered and agreed by both parties, ensuring he would remain in the Premier League for the 2021-’22 season. The news is a perfect pick-me-up for Solskjaer during a difficult period of fixture congestion and tension with supporters.

Cavani has been instrumental in a strong end to the season by the club, particularly in the Europa League, where he was outstanding in the 8-5 semi-final aggregate win over Roma.

Having been involved in five of the six first-leg goals, Cavani scored twice in the second leg, setting up a final against Villarreal on May 26 in Gdansk, when he is expected to start as the lone striker in what has become Solskjaer’s favoured formation.

However, earlier in the year, it appeared far from certain that Cavani would stay at United, whom he joined at the start of the season as a free agent, having been released by Paris St Germain.

Cavani played no football from the middle of March 2020 until joining United and the striker took time to gain match fitness after battling against Covid-19 over the summer.

Cavani’s one-year contract contained an optional extra year, which had to be agreed by both parties, and while Solskjaer always seemed keen to re-sign the veteran, once he had proved his fitness, his return had been in doubt. 

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]