Manchester United Star Forward Confirms Decision To Leave, Wants To Join Barcelona: Reports

KEY POINTS

Edinson Cavani joined Man Utd in the 2020 summer
He has fallen down in pecking order after Ronaldo's arrival
Cavani has made only eight appearances this season

Edinson Cavani has reportedly informed Manchester United that he wants to leave the club during the January transfer window.

Cavani, whose current contract with Manchester United is due to expire at the end of the 2021-22 season, wants to join FC Barcelona, reported The Times. The 34-year-old Uruguayan forward wishes to play for the Catalans before ending his career and he believes he still has another couple of seasons at the top level.

Manchester United will not stand in Cavani's way, provided Barcelona make a concrete proposal to sign him, according to soccer website Teamtalk.

However, Barcelona's ongoing financial crisis is not hidden anymore as the club is in a reported debt of around $1.3 billion. While they cannot afford to pay a price to sign Cavani, they could land him on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.

Cavani, who joined Manchester United as a free agent from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the 2020 summer, is believed to be unhappy with his game time being drastically reduced following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo. Apart from this, Cavani's current season has also been hampered with injuries.

The veteran player is currently out of action with a tendon issue and is expected to miss at least six games in this period. Cavani had suffered a knock earlier this season that saw him miss four games in September.

So far in the 2021-22 campaign, Cavani has made only eight competitive appearances for Manchester United, which includes only two starts that have come in the Premier League.

Edinson Cavani of Manchester United warming up during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Atalanta and Manchester United at Stadio di Bergamo on November 2, 2021 in Bergamo, Italy. Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

While he is looking to join a club that will guarantee him more time on the field, Barcelona's new head coach Xavi Hernandez is believed to be on the lookout for a new forward to strengthen his attack.

Barcelona are also trying to tie down Ousmane Dembele in a new deal. The French forward's current contract is due to expire at the end of the 2021-22 season and it has been reported that the Catalans have handed Dembele a two-week strict deadline to decide on his Camp Nou future.