Matheus Cunha has completed his move to Man United and the pressure will be on him to deliver next season.
Comments
Sport
Matheus Cunha has signed for United
Matheus Cunha has signed for United(Image: MUTV)
For all the poor decisions and mismanagement at Manchester United, perhaps one of the club's biggest problems is something they can do very little about.
Countless players have arrived at Old Trafford and been swallowed up by the pressure of playing for one of the world's biggest clubs. And when said players ultimately leave United and thrive elsewhere, little consideration is given to the fact their upturn in form may well be down to the reduced pressure levels at clubs where the spotlight isn't quite so intense.
Of course, United might not be able to do anything about the pressure that comes with representing the club, but they can ensure the players they sign are ready to cope with the demands that come with pulling on that famous red shirt.
In Matheus Cunha, they have signed a player who is all too used to being under the spotlight.
While Wolves may not be the biggest team in England, two-and-a-half years spent in the Premier League after a stint in La Liga with Atletico Madrid along with 15 caps for Brazil mean he is ready for what's about to come his way.
"I'm so free for that (the pressure that comes with playing for United), honestly. I think I'm grateful to be part of the biggest national team in the world, the pressure there is also huge," he told MUTV. "And I learned a lot. I learned a lot, I think in the beginning it was a little bit different in parts for me.
"To be honest, sometimes I don't think I managed well and I think I learned from the mistakes. I don't think it's mistakes, it's normal, it's learning. To come here now is the best moment in my life to also feel open for these kind of details."
The final part of that answer is also telling. One of the reservations some fans have had over Cunha is his disciplinary record. He was suspended for a combined six matches last season following a full-time scuffle with an Ipswich Town security guard and a red card at Bournemouth. He admits he's learnt a lot in his career so far and is ready for the challenge.
At 26, Cunha is coming into his prime and his 15 Premier League goals last season suggest United have got themselves a real quality player.
With experience of playing in the Premier League, experience of playing in some of Europe's other top leagues and a relatively modest fee of £62.5m for a player who should fit seamlessly into Ruben Amorim's system, it really does feel like the only thing that could get in Cunha's way is the pressure of playing for United.
He wouldn't be the first player to crumble but he's confident that he won't.
---
Here at the Manchester Evening News, we're dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.
And finally, if you'd rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.