Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has ruled out the possibility of losing Edinson Cavani this month.
Cavani has not played his last game for Manchester United, insists Rangnick (Photo: AP)
The Uruguayan has scored 19 goals in 49 appearances for the Red Devils since joining on a free transfer in October 2020.
Cavani, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has been linked with a move to Barcelona, but Rangnick highlighted his importance despite having a wealth of attacking options to choose from.
“We spoke about Edi and he knows that I will definitely not let him go,” said Rangnick ahead of United’s Premier League clash with Wolves on Monday.
“I would rather have another Edi on top of that but for me it’s clear that Edi has to stay.”
Cavani started for the first time under Rangnick in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Burnley.
“He is probably the only one who can play as a striker back to goal and face to goal,” added Rangnick on Cavani.
“His professionalism, his work ethic is just amazing and I told him that I desperately want him to stay until the end of the season. He knows that.
Anthony Martial is one of United’s forward options who looks set to leave in January with Sevilla reportedly close to agreeing a loan deal for the French international.
Dean Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Donny van de Beek could also move on in search of more first-team action.
“Our squad is maybe a little bit too big with regards to numbers,” said Rangnick.
“But we still have Covid, we have three competitions, as I said, and I think we could do with a bigger squad than maybe in times without Covid.”
