Edinson Cavani reveals how Ander Herrera played a big part in helping him join Manchester United

Edinson Cavani has revealed how he sought the advice of Ander Herrera and, quite surprisingly, Angel Di Maria before making his last-minute move to Manchester United on deadline day.

The Uruguayan had become a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year, and had been linked with the likes of Atletico Madrid and Benfica. 

However, it was United who managed to convince the striker to join them on a free which saw him put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Old Trafford.

Edinson Cavani (L) reveals how he sought Ander Herrera’s (R) advice before joining Man Utd

Cavani (left) also spoke with former United winger Angel Di Maria (right) over a move

And the 33-year-old revealed that his personal chat with ex-United midfielder Herrera played a big part in making his move to the club happen.

‘I spoke with Ander a lot, as well as other team-mates, like Angel Di Maria, who I was also with at Paris,’ Cavani told United’s official website. ‘It was genuinely getting to the last minute and I called Ander to have a chat.

‘I have a lot of admiration for Ander, for the kind of person he is, and I had the feeling that his words were going to help me out, by telling me a bit about what it was like at United. 

‘So yes, it’s true that after I’d finished talking with Ander, we came to an agreement here with the club.

Herrera says he told old PSG team-mate Cavani not to turn down a move to Old Trafford

‘I hadn’t known Ander for too long, but we formed and enjoyed a close friendship during that time at PSG, and, today, we are still very good mates.’

It may come as a surprise to United fans that Cavani enlisted the help of Di Maria over a move to United, considering the Argentine’s stint at the club left a sour taste in his mouth.

In the years following his move away from the north west of England, Di Maria has made no effort to hide his dislike for the club long before his wife weighed into the debate spectacularly in a Spanish TV show earlier this year.

Jorgelina Cardoso revealed she begged Di Maria not to make his £59.7million move from Real Madrid in 2014 before claiming the city was ‘s***’ while the food was ‘disgusting’.

Problems both on and off the pitch severely affected Di Maria and it was not long before he made his way to Paris.

Di Maria has made no effort to hide his dislike for United, as he taunted their fans in PSG’s clash with the Red Devils last year by pretending to drink from a beer bottle thrown on the pitch

Di Maria’s wife, Jorgelina, said she begged her husband not to make the move to England

While Cavani didn’t necessarily say what advice Di Maria gave him, he did confirm that it was Herrera who helped convince him.

Herrera revealed earlier this week just what he said to the Uruguay international on their phone call.

‘He asked me for advice. I told him this was one of those teams that you couldn’t say no to,’ Herrera told Cadena Ser.

‘It’s just too bad he can’t take advantage of the fans. Old Trafford is unique.’ 

United completed the signing of Cavani as the Premier League club left it late to bolster Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad before the transfer window shut on Monday night.  

The 33-year-old put pen to paper on a two-year deal on around £210,000 per week after tax

The Red Devils had been strongly linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, although the Bundesliga side’s price tag of £108m for the winger proved beyond United in this window. 

But Cavani’s arrival should give United a more physical edge alongside Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, and Mason Greenwood.

Cavani, who has joined on a deal worth £210,000-a-week, said following his move: ‘Manchester United is one of the greatest clubs in the world, so it is a real honour to be here.

‘I’ve worked really hard during the time off and I feel eager to compete and represent this incredible club.’