The fans of a club are almost always excited over a transfer move, but if the endorsements start coming in from rival bosses, that’s when you know you’ve made a great move.
Manchester United have signed two players in the transfer window so far, and a third one was signed before but will arrive in July.
Then there’s Bryan Mbeumo, whose Man Utd transfer might look like it’s stuck in limbo, but there’s confidence it will be done.
One player has been picked out by a rival Premier League boss as someone who can decide a game in seconds. He’s convinced Man Utd signing has ‘enormous talent’.
Vitor Pereira, head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers (L) and Matheus Cunha of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrate victory following the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Manchester United FC at Molineux
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Vitor Pereira hails Matheus Cunha
Matheus Cunha’s early signing by Man Utd is a statement of intent because he’s right from the Sir Alex Ferguson template of transfers.
United have weakened a team they will play at least twice next season, while adding 15 Premier League goals to the squad.
Nobody would know Cunha’s impact better than Wolves, who were effectively kept in the division for two years courtesy of the Brazilian’s talismanic form.
Speaking to Spanish outlet Marca, Pereira hailed Cunha’s qualities as a player, confirming the player’s fierce desire to move to Old Trafford and nowhere else.
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He said: “He’s [Matheus Cunha] a special player, capable of deciding a match in seconds. He has enormous talent. I gave him the confidence to put his talent to work for the team, and he’s contributed a lot. However, he felt he had to leave, and now he’ll have the opportunity to reaffirm his position at a club like Manchester United.”
Cunha has the personality to shine at Man Utd
It is notable that a common praise Cunha seems to receive is about his personality, that he doesn’t cower under pressure, but seems to relish it.
He has already had a “saviour” role at Wolves, so the demands from him at United won’t be much different, albeit at a different scale.
As Pereira says, Cunha has the quality to decide a game by taking it from the scruff of its neck. It is the kind of skill that nobody except Amad and Bruno Fernandes seems to have in the current Man Utd squad.
Having a player who can put his hand up in difficult moments instead of hiding will do wonders for the confidence of the dressing room as well.
Some players can just be looked at, and they scream “Manchester United”. Omar Berrada said he is “Cantona-esque”, and praise doesn’t get much higher than that.
The best thing is that this narrative won’t burden Cunha, but will empower him to live up to it.