Paris (AFP)
Edinson Cavani will not see the Parc des Princes again.
Left Paris SG by the back door this summer, the Uruguayan is not in the Manchester United group to face his former team on Tuesday in the Champions League.
"Edinson needs to train a few more days," said his coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Monday.
Another missed appointment for the top scorer in the history of PSG, whose last match dates back to seven months, under the Parisian colors.
Replacing Mauro Icardi last season, Cavani has not played since March 11 and the round of 16 second leg of C1 against Dortmund (2-0 victory).
The stoppage of Ligue 1 caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, then the failure of negotiations around its extension, forced him to leave on the sly, after seven seasons and 200 goals in Red and Blue.
Without farewell to the supporters who loved him so much, and without playing the "Final 8" of the C1, ended with a defeat in the final (1-0) against Bayern Munich.
"He's the top scorer in the history of PSG, and he deserved to start in a better way," regrets Julien Le Lay, president of PSG Club in London.
- "Stay in my heart" -
At 33, "Edi" signed at Manchester United free of any contract, not without having consulted his ex-teammates, in particular the former Red Devil Ander Herrera.
Just before the officialization of his transfer, he broadcast on social networks a message, in French, to the supporters, more than four months after his departure from PSG.
"A little time has passed since my departure but sometimes it's good to let a little time pass (...) It will stay in my head, it will stay in my heart but life will continue, football is like that, life is like that, "said the Matador, hiding his emotion.
He was entitled to a banner in Spanish from the ultras, deployed in front of the Invalides: "El Matador, from soldier to legend, a striker who marked the history of our club".
"If we play for so long in a club like ours, and if we have such a bond with the supporters, it is clear that we have the character to deserve this recognition," said Parisian coach Thomas Tuchel.
But in Paris, his signing in the club which cruelly eliminated PSG two years ago (2-0, 1-3) in the round of 16 of C1, leaves a little bitter taste.
- In Ibra's footsteps?
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Forced into a two-week quarantine, he who caught the Covid-19 while on vacation in Ibiza with his ex-teammates, Cavani began training on Sunday under Solskjaer, the day after the Red Devils victory ( 4-1) at Newcastle.
If he will have a tough competition to win against the younger and sharpened Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Daniel James and Anthony Martial, his aura and his flair can bring a lot to the Mancunian attack.
"He can totally help us win games and points. He can be a huge player for us this season," Rashford praised.
In Manchester, he is expected to follow in the footsteps of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, also arrived free after having shone in Paris, and who had scored four goals in five matches for his debut with MU.
Cavani's will wait a bit longer, at least until Chelsea's reception in the Premier League on Saturday.
To the great relief of the Parisian defense.
© 2020 AFP