Every word from Cavani’s farewell interview

There have also been plenty of youngsters training with the first team this year and they’ve spoken about learning from you. Guys like Joe Hugill, Alvaro Fernandez and Alejandro Garnacho. Do you try to set the right example in training?
“I believe, say and always think that a player has to always be very professional, because football is a professional sport, and to make it as a pro, you have to be professional in your outlook too. And this requires you to be able to apply yourself to the job in hand. And to work seriously hard whenever you go out onto the training pitch, or whenever you go to work in the gym, whatever it is you might have to do. You have to do your work in a professional manner. Not just to show off the way you work in training, but rather because I think that is just the way it has to be. That is the only way that will help you to win things and to let you feel satisfied with the work you’ve put in. Do you understand? Because if you don’t put in a shift during training, or train badly, in the end when things don’t go well for you, you’re never going to have that calm confidence inside you that you have done everything you possibly could have had to do. So, I believe that speaking personally for me, the way I work, and train and the way I do things is always the same. Because that is my theory, my ideology on life, more than just on football. Give everything you have and do your very best in every training session, just like you are meant to do. And that will give me the peace of mind when I step out onto the pitch, to go and perform to the very best level that I can. Sometimes things will go well and other times not so well. So I’d say that if they want to see me as setting a good example, then that’s great. But honestly speaking, I don’t think you have to work hard to show or demonstrate anything, I think you have to work hard because you believe that is the right way to win things and achieve stuff in the game.”

After spending two years at the club, what would your message to the United fans be?
“I sincerely have nothing but words of gratitude towards the fans and supporters of Manchester United. Honestly, they have shown me a lot of respect from the very first moment I arrived. I think they’ve greatly recognised all the hard work I’ve always tried to put in in the best way possible, giving my best for this team. I really am very grateful, and I’ll be leaving here with a happy memory of that affection they showed me and always displayed. But it’s also a bit like I mentioned to you. I’ll have that slightly bitter taste of having wanted to contribute more and having really wanted to feature more regularly this season. Of being able to have shown a little more consistency that, on occasions, injuries and other small issues have not allowed me to do. But I want to sincerely thank them from the bottom of my heart, because they have always shown me a lot of affection, and that is very important for a footballer.”