Edinson Cavani may not have had the most impressive tenure with Manchester united, but a recent action away from the pitch has demonstrated his incredibly caring nature
Edinson Cavani celebrates with his Manchester United team-mates
Edinson Cavani helped Rafa Cotelo in his hour of need(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
Edinson Cavani gave Rafa Cotelo crucial support when his daughter required urgent surgery.
The former Manchester United forward's friendship with the television presenter is widely known throughout their homeland of Uruguay, alongside Cotelo's connections with other footballing stars including Luis Suarez. Cavani's genuine character was evident when he ensured Cotelo's daughter, Emma, received the necessary funds for surgery as a result of being born with hydrocephalus.
According to the NHS, the condition involves "a build-up of fluid in the brain," and can lead to brain damage or prove fatal without proper treatment. During an extended boat journey to Buenos Aires, Emma's condition deteriorated rapidly before she was taken to a medical facility for evaluation by an assistant neurosurgeon.
At that point, Cotelo was informed his daughter required immediate surgical intervention. As Emma was rushed into theatre, Cotelo went to arrange payment for the operation, only to encounter a significant hurdle.
The clinic insisted the journalist pay in cash, refusing his offers to make a bank transfer or card payment. Reflecting on the distressing situation, he told Radio La Red: "I had brought enough cash for a routine consultation, but as she required further treatment, the costs skyrocketed," explaining that he was compelled to seek Cavani's assistance, given the footballer was living in Argentina while playing for Boca Juniors.
He explained: "Desperate, I called him, but he didn't answer. He was asleep. I had his wife's number, who is lovely, so I called her and woke her up. I explained the situation and apologised profusely.
"She put me through to Edi and he said, 'I happen to have that amount in cash, I'll be right over.' Five minutes later, he called me back, saying he'd set the GPS and was an hour away. 'I have a friend 10 minutes away, he'll take the money to you.'
Edinson Cavani gestures while playing for Manchester United
Edinson Cavani played for Manchester United between 2020 and 2022
"I got out with Emma's mum, freezing cold and scared, and in the dark a skinny guy appeared with a bag full of Argentinean money and said to me, 'Edi sent me, this is for you; if you need more, let me know.' It brought me back to life.
"He was like an angel to me, standing on the street, with a box full of money that Edi had sent me. I paid with that, it was enough, and the operation was carried out," reports the Mirror.
Emma's surgery ran smoothly, and now Cotelo joyfully speaks of his daughter as: "beautiful and happy, concerned only about her 15th birthday," all thanks to Cavani's generous gesture. Following the widespread sharing of this touching story, he apologised to Cavani for the publicity.
Moreover, he made sure Emma returned the sum to Cavani in person, even though Cavani never asked for the repayment. He added: "He never mentioned it, but luckily I was able to give it back to him.
"It was my concern, and he said to me, 'What are you talking about? The important thing is that Emma is well.' The nicest thing was that Emma gave it back to him 15 days later, when we were discharged."
Edinson Cavani celebrates
Edinson Cavani has played for Boca Juniors since 2023
In a remarkable gesture of generosity, Cavani's friend, who handed Cotelo the money on the night of the operation, gathered the funds from his tango bar. The presenter shared the touching story of how Cavani's friend emptied the cash register after a busy night and brought all the earnings to ensure Emma could undergo her surgery.
After making his mark with teams like Danubio, Palermo, Napoli, and Paris Saint-Germain, Cavani joined Manchester United in 2020, playing under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. During his time at Old Trafford, he netted 19 goals across 59 appearances before moving to Valencia.
Following his stint in Spain, Cavani took up a new challenge with Boca Juniors in 2023, where he continues to showcase his talents. Even at 38, Cavani is still contributing on the pitch in the Torneo Clausura, having scored once in six matches for the club based in Buenos Aires.