Edinson Cavani opens up on transfer decision amid Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea interest

Edinson Cavani has scored eight goals for PSG already this season

EDINSON CAVANI says Paris Saint-Germain's reluctance to sell him made it impossible to move to the Premier League this summer.

 

Uruguay striker Cavani was wanted by Arsenal as far back as the January transfer window but the Paris club refused to sell up.

The striker had complained last season that he was forced to play out wide, fuelling reports he would seek a transfer in the summer.

 

But no move materialised as Arsenal sought to capture Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, which they failed to do, instead.

And, discussing the transfer window and why he didn't quit the Ligue 1 champions, Cavani hinted that had the situation been different he would have moved on.

 

"In football, there are a lot of things that depend not on the footballer but on the club," he said.

"Often when a player decides to change club it's not solely his choice. It's a decision made in agreement with the club, which seeks the best solution for both parties.

"PSG have always shown me their desire to keep me, to make me a player for the future of the club. That's important for me. It gives me a lot of energy to work.

"For three years, people have talked far too much about things that didn't exist. My desire was always to stay and to reach the goals set by the club. At the moment I feel very good in Paris."

 

Manchester United were also said to be keen on Cavani, as well as Juventus striker Fernando Llorente.

But manager Louis van Gaal eventually swooped in on the deadline day purchase of Monaco's Anthony Martial for an initial £36million.

 

Cavani helped PSG knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League last season

It is understood Cavani, 28, has a £54m release clause in his contract and that Chelsea were considering an offer before signing Radamel Falcao on a loan deal early in the summer.

Blues manager Jose Mourinho stuck to his 'one in, one out' policy over the transfer window and insisted he would not break the bank to bring in another goalscorer after offloading Didier Drogba.