Ralf Rangnick has revealed that striker Edinson Cavani has vowed to stay at Manchester United this month, despite interest from Barcelona.
Cavani has entered the final six months of his contract at Old Trafford and has been tipped to move to Barça, who see the Uruguay international as a viable alternative to their preferred transfer target, Alvaro Morata.
Rangnick has already stressed that he wants to keep Cavani around, and the boss has now revealed that the feeling is mutual.
"I told him that if it was up to me I would want him to stay and I had a conversation with him," Rangnick said (via Sky Sports News).
"He came to my office and we spoke for almost half an hour and he told me that he will definitely stay, he will want to stay until the end of the season.
"Not only because I told him that he should stay or has to stay, but he did it on his own behalf. He told me that I can rely on him to stay until the end of the season and give his very best, be a role model for the young players.
"He's available and he's happy to play. Even if he's not playing, he will be trying to be the best possible role model for the other players.
"This is, for me, good news because Edi is one of those players - with his vast amount of experience, his mentality, his work ethic - who could really be a perfect role model for all the other players."
After returning from an injury which delayed his introduction to Rangnick, Cavani has been a regular under the German, whose 4-2-2-2 system has freed up an extra spot in United's attack alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
He has started United's last two Premier League games - half of all his starts this season - and appears set for more between now and the end of the season.
Source : 90min