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Edinson Cavani: Uruguay star could have joined Arsenal but Arsene Wenger chose alternative
EDINSON CAVANI could have been an Arsenal player had Arsene Wenger not chosen an alternative in 2016.
Edinson Cavani scores brilliant free kick for PSG
Cavani was tipped to leave Paris Saint-Germain two years ago despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played as the central striker ahead of the 31-year-old, choosing to join Manchester United.
Arsenal were linked with a move for the Uruguay international with Arsene Wenger, at the time, keen to turn them into Premier League champions once again.
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However, Cavani ended up staying at PSG.
He will line up for Uruguay tonight aiming to fire them through to the World Cup quarter-finals at Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s expense.
And the player Arsenal chose to pursue instead of him also remains in the tournament.
Arsenal chose to focus their efforts on luring Jamie Vardy away from Arsenal.
The England international was coveted after a stunning season where he fired Leicester City to the unlikeliest of Premier League title triumphs.
Despite Cavani nearly joining, Wenger was sure Vardy would be a better fit.
However, like Cavani, the Leicester forwarded ended up staying at his current club.
Vardy recently admitted that Arsenal’s interest in him stopped him performing for England at the European Championships in 2016.
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He said: “It wasn’t an irritation.
“There was just a lot of time when we were in our rooms to think about it.
“It wasn’t something you could just put to the back of your mind.
“But I made my decision back then and I’ve not looked back since, carried on, played my football, been doing well for my club and I think that’s what’s got me the opportunity where I can go to a World Cup.”