Edinson Cavani will not face his old team as Manchester United travel to Paris for their opening Champions League fixture at PSG on Tuesday night.
The 33-year-old Uruguay international, who left PSG at the end of June, signed a one-year deal with United earlier this month.
But Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that Cavani, along with Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood, Eric Bailly and Jesse Lingard have not made the journey to France.
Maguire, Greenwood, Bailly and Lingard are missing with injuries while Cavani is not fit enough to play but is in contention for Saturday’s Premier League game against Chelsea.
The United boss also announced that Bruno Fernandes will captain the team in the absence of Maguire.
“Edinson needs a few more days training before we can think about the weekend,” Solskjaer revealed in his press conference on Monday.
“Hopefully the same with Harry, Eric and Mason as well, but we’re not sure about that.”
Regarding Greenwood’s injury, Solskjaer said: “It’s just a niggle. As young as he is, we don’t want to take any chances with him. Hopefully by the weekend, he’ll be fine again.”
United eased the pain of a humiliating 6-1 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur with a 4-1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday and now turn their attentions to their Champions League campaign with a home triple-header against Chelsea, RB Leipzig and Arsenal to follow.
The Red Devils are no strangers to the French champions with Solskjaer’s side having prevailed against the odds in their last-16 meeting in 2019.
They ran out surprise 3-1 winners in the second leg at the Parc des Princes having lost the first game 2-0 at Old Trafford before bowing out to Barcelona in the last eight.
18 months on and PSG are French champions once more though still await a first Champions League triumph – having missed out in last season’s final.
Despite Cavani’s departure the French side still boast one of the most formidable attack lineups in Europe that features Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and former United winger Angel Di Maria.
But, even though he won’t feature on Tuesday, PSG Coach Thomas Tuchel is more than aware of the threat provided by the former PSG striker when he finally makes his United bow.
“He will be there in every training session first minute until last minute. Every game from first second until last second. You can totally rely on him,” he said of the Uruguayan prior to Tuesday’s game.
“He’s living for goals, living for scoring. When he scores, when he has the confidence, he’s one of the best number nines in world football.”
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