Edinson Cavani
Dimitar Berbatov has said Edinson Cavani’s father acted in the same way Mino Raiola did when he announced Paul Pogba’s time at Manchester United was up. Speaking to Betfair, Berbatov said it is not unusual for family members to get involved in players’ business. Yet he warned that it can often backfire and weaken a player’s position at a club, pointing to Raiola’s comments on Pogba earlier this season.
Dimitar Berbatov said: “When I was a football player, my dad was involved in my career off the field. Edinson Cavani’s dad plays a similar role for his son. Parents think they are doing the best for us, but that’s not always the case. Cavani’s dad has claimed the striker is unhappy at United but perhaps Cavani didn’t know what his dad was going to say. Maybe Cavani felt disappointed about not playing recently – I don’t know, I’m just trying to understand what might have happened – but you don’t want these types of things out in the public, especially when you are integrated in the team in a good way and scoring goals. Sometimes, your dad, if he is acting like an agent, will act in your best interest. But it can backfire, as with any other agent. Like when Mino Raiola said Paul Pogba was unhappy – it doesn’t necessarily help the player and his situation. In the end it’s down to the player and what he wants. I would be very happy to see Cavani stay at United because he is bringing goals and experience to the team and creating competition for places.”
Dimitar Berbatov said “I’m pretty sure that when the transfer window opens United will be linked with a lot of strikers and the one problem that Cavani has is that he isn’t 21. But he is fit and he knows where the goal is, so he can still help United. I wouldn’t be surprised if he left in the summer because football is business, and if he is homesick then I’m sure he would prefer to leave, but I would be happy to see him stay.”
Eyebrows were raised earlier this month when Cavani’s father said the veteran forward would be looking to leave United after just one season due to not settling in Manchester. Cavani responded by stating on social media he was proud to wear the United shirt, seemingly looking to play down his father’s comments.
