Matheus Cunha: An eccentric solution to Manchester United’s problems

It has been 12 years since Manchester United last won the Premier League. They’re a club where morale, motivation, and excitement are at an all-time low. They’re a side that have just registered their worst-ever season in Premier League history—and arguably the second-worst in the club’s entire history.

Who would want to join this eternal poisoned chalice?

As it turns out, Wolves star Matheus Cunha does. The Brazilian is eccentric, but in many ways he could just be the tonic needed to inject a bolt of life into a seemingly lifeless environment in and around the club.

For starters, Cunha will arrive at the club with proven Premier League experience, which means the level of adaptation that is required for a player coming from a different league is a problem Man United won’t have to worry about. An experienced campaigner, the 26-year-old is well-versed in the physical and mental demands of the English top flight, which bodes well for the Red Devils as they will expect a quick start to life at Old Trafford from the Brazil international.

Then come the numbers, and the numbers don’t lie. Throughout his stay with Wolves, Cunha has gone from being a frustratingly inconsistent goalscorer to an irresistible force of peerless finishing and nerveless scoring—and his numbers indicate this shift.

In his first 95 games, include spells at clubs like Hertha Berlin, RB Leipzig, and Atlético Madrid, Cunha had a paltry return of just ten goals. Fast forward to his next 65 games, and he has gone on to score 30 times—roughly a goal every two games.

Cunha has honed his craft over the years. He is a man of many positions: a No. 10, a striker, a winger. But he arguably does his best work as a left-sided No 10. At Wolves, he has been a one-man wrecking ball—carrying the ball, dropping in pockets of space to create trouble for the opposition, even dropping deep to influence proceedings as a playmaker. His long shots and set-piece prowess only add to the burgeoning repertoire that sets him apart from the rest. 

This season has seen Cunha become arguably the best version of himself yet. His performance on the xG metric is a complete and hilarious antithesis of Manchester United on the whole: while he has overperformed on his xG with overwhelming success in two seasons running (12 goals in 2023/24 with an xG of 10.23 and 15 goals in 2024/25 with an xG of 8.45), United have been woefully impotent.

Cunha’s overall numbers for this season are nothing short of exemplary. Second in terms of shots on target per 90, as well as second in overall shots, he leads the league in shots from outside the box. He ranks an above-average 15th in the league for chances created. These numbers further showcase that he is a well-rounded attacker who will raise both the floor and the ceiling for his new employers.

Cunha has the flair, machismo, and bravado to become a leading light for Manchester United. While other players tend to shirk the spotlight, there is an innate desire in the Brazilian to crave it. 

But there are issues too. His antics and aggression this season have seen him miss six games due to suspension. He can be outspoken to the point of ruffling feathers, while his head-loss on the pitch can often be more hindrance than help. Ask the Ipswich Town steward whose glasses he broke, or Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, who was the unlucky recipient of a devilish trifecta—a kick, a hit, and a headbutt—from Cunha.

But all this won’t matter if he keeps banging in goals for his new club. Cunha burst onto the scene when he bamboozled his current employers for two seasons straight. Now, as the scorer of a direct corner that consigned his to-be new side to new depths of dross, he will be the headline of this summer, with expectations that his addition will help the team turn a new corner. And he looks ready to embrace the challenge with open arms.