Everton defender Michael Keane snubbed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and named former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani as the best opponent that he has played against on the pitch.
Michael Keane left Old Trafford during the Louis van Gaal era after struggling to establish himself in the Manchester United first-team squad in the last decade.
The 33-year-old Everton centre-back moved to Burnley in 2015 and even crossed paths with former Red Devils striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as an opponent.
However, not even Ibrahimovic’s encounter with Keane in the 2016-17 season left the mark on him that former United attacker Edinson Cavani did in England.
What Michael Keane thought of Edinson Cavani even beyond the former Man Utd striker’s ‘prime’ form
Edinson Cavani followed in former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s footsteps by signing for Manchester United on a free transfer.
Ibrahimovic had left Old Trafford in 2018 and signed for LA Galaxy long before former Man Utd star Cavani completed his move to the Premier League club in 2020.
Cavani’s contract with PSG had expired at the 2019-20 season and the Uruguayan striker was brought in as a key attacking option for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The former Uruguay international was 33 when he signed for Man Utd, but Michael Keane admitted that he was still surprised by Cavani’s movement at that age.
Speaking to Ben Foster on the Fozcast podcast, Cavani said: “Let’s say someone a bit different here. Not that he’s not a top player, he is. Cavani.
“I remember playing against him when he was at United, and obviously he’s probably passed his best at that point, but he was still really good, but it was his movement.”
Former Man Utd defender Michael Keane’s first-hand experience of defending against Edinson Cavani
Keane had signed for Everton in 2017 after leaving Burnley and he crossed paths with former Napoli and PSG striker Cavani multiple times across 2020 to 2022.
The former United youth academy product explained that it was hard to lock Cavani down to one place on the pitch and he found it difficult to “track” him during a match.
“Honestly, for most of the game, I didn’t know where he was,” Keane added.
“His little subtle movements that most strikers don’t do, on your back shoulder and then coming across, it was hard to keep track of him.”
Cavani, who is currently at Boca Juniors, spent two seasons at Old Trafford before he left Man Utd in 2022 and signed for Spanish side Valencia.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/5yAkoaG