Manchester United have signed Matheus Cunha on a five-year deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers recently. The 26-year-old Brazilian forward is the first big signing of the summer transfer window for the Red Devils.
Manchester United acquired Cunha by paying 62.5 million GBP to Wolves.
With each of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho almost certain to leave the club, Cunha’s signing should reinforce Manchester United’s attacking options.
Matheus Cunha: Wolves’ Bright Spark
Cunha has scored 31 goals in 72 matches for Wolves during the last two seasons.
Moreover, he has also registered 13 assists for a club that has finished in the bottom half of the Premier League table in each of the last two seasons.
Cunha can play as the second striker as well as the left winger. With Manchester United likely to play with a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2 next season, Cunha should be able to carve his niche for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Amorim will hope that the Brazilian is able to replace Rashford, Garnacho and Sancho, each of whom play as the left-winger.
With young players like Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund around him, Cunha will have to shoulder a lot of responsibility in United’s attack. It remains to be seen whether the Red Devils decide to sell Hojlund and manage to sign Patrick Mbeumo.
In that case, with Amad and Mbeumo around him, Cunha might have to play the role of a senior guy in United’s offence.
Viktor Gyokeres, the Swedish striker who has left the Portuguese Primeira Liga on fire in recent times, is also on Manchester United’s radar.
Should Gyokeres come to United and Hojlund leave, their attack will be revamped completely.
Therefore, Cunha should have enough opportunities to showcase his talent for a club as big as Manchester United. It might give his career a much-needed impetus.
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No European Football
Normally, playing European football is something that comes with playing for a big club like United.
However, the Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League last season and lost in the final of the Europa League as well. Hence, they are not going to play in Europe in the upcoming season.
Therefore, the domestic competitions are all Cunha will get to demonstrate his abilities. He should strive to make sure that United ensures a top-six finish next season to automatically qualify for Europe in the subsequent season.
However, the eventuality that attacking players like Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku suffered at Manchester United during the past decade or so, should keep Amorim apprehensive.
Unless Cunha is able to deliver for the club on a regular basis, Amorim should not be satisfied merely by signing him to ensure his services.
United supporters will hope that Gyokeres comes to the club to replace Hojlund. It should give Manchester United a potent option upfront and should also increase Cunha’s effectiveness as a player.
It remains to be seen whether the deal with Gyokeres materializes to bolster Manchester United further in the upcoming season.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Every Second Media
Recording Date: 20.04.2025