Matheus Cunha is settling in at Carrington this week, with pre-season now underway as the Brazilian catches the eye.
After a long summer break, Manchester United are back in training ahead of the new Premier League season, which kicks off on the 17th of August against Arsenal.
This is just over a month away, yet already the squad are looking sharp in training, learning and executing Ruben Amorim’s system at Carrington.
Within the United players who have already returned to pre-season, it is Matheus Cunha who has been the hottest topic with fans keen to catch a glimpse of the new £62.5m signing in action.
On Tuesday, United officially handed Cunha the number 10 shirt, which brought a brutal end to Marcus Rashford at the club.
Former Wolves star Matheus Cunha in action during a first-team Manchester United training session at the Carrington training complex in 2025 in Manchester.
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United
Matheus Cunha impressing after first training session for Manchester United
While Bruno Fernandes and other internationals don’t return on Thursday, Cunha has been at Carrington all week, and already he has impressed.
Cunha was pictured in United training on Tuesday, looking right at home with a big smile on his face. On his first day, Cunha has already developed a partnership with Joshua Zirkzee.
More United News
Despite only having one session at the time, Cunha had already impressed United in training with his clinical finishing in front of goal being a welcome change from other attackers.
Now, United have released a video from the session in which Cunha looks very sharp and at one stage demonstrated his excellent ball-carrying.
Back on the grass 😍
The first training footage of pre-season is in! 📲
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 9, 2025
View Tweet
Cunha carried the ball brilliantly while holding off tackles from Kobbie Mainoo and Matthijs de Ligt with ease, before he passed to Mason Mount, who scored.
United have been lacking a player to pick up the ball and bring it through the midfield with powerful running and close ball control.
Cunha’s dominance should shock Manchester United teammates into improvement
Despite the excitement that fans and the club should have over how good Cunha looks, this kind of dominance in training should send a shockwave through the squad.
This doesn’t have to be a negative, as by Cunha showing levels to his teammates, it should, in theory, light a fire under them to improve and not allow him to do this in the future.
Cunha raising the standards at United will only benefit the club and his teammates, with the saying going that ‘a rising tide raises all boats’, and Amorim needed a player like this.
Another example setter in the squad to partner with Bruno Fernandes as two players who will raise standards.
Already, this looks to be an excellent signing.