Wolves will head into the 2025/26 season without Matheus Cunha, after he was sold to Manchester United.
It was a move that had been on the cards for some time, and once it was confirmed at the start of the transfer window, many fans were relieved.
Matheus Cunha was brilliant for a lot of last season.
But his antics were also distracting at times, and the speculation that constantly surrounded him grew tiresome.
Thankfully, his exit from Wolves was facilitated quickly, with United reported to have payed over Cunha’s £62.5 million release clause.
Man United are said to be paying for Cunha in installments, with the full payment to be made by the summer of 2027.
Some of Matheus Cunha’s transfer fee will go to his former clubs
Matheus Cunha in Manchester United training.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
United are thought to have paid £66 million to sign Cunha.
But Wolves will not actually see that additional £4.5 million on top of the initial release clause money.
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Because it will instead go to Cunha’s former clubs via clauses that were inserted previously.
So in total, when all is said and done, Wolves will receive no more than the £62.5 million as per the release clause.
Speaking on this on the latest E&S podcast, journalist Liam Keen said: “It’s important to remember as well actually – I don’t think this is public, so this will be hopefully a bit of new information – but the £62.5 million, but United actually paid roughly around £66 million, so that they paid off all the money that was owed to Cunha’s previous clubs as well.
“Which means that Wolves didn’t get less than £62.5 million. They got £62.5 million net. Which is a small improvement, I suppose, on the money that we thought could have been lost from that deal.”
It is not clear how the extra money is divided, but Cunha’s former clubs are Atletico Madrid, Hertha Berlin, RB Leipzig and FC Sion. And he came through the ranks at Brazilian club Coritiba.
It is unclear which of these clubs specifically had clauses entitling them to money for Cunha.
Wolves sold Matheus Cunha too cheaply for his talent
So Wolves will receive £62.5 million in total for Cunha, no more, no less.
Arguably, Wolves have sold the Brazilian too cheaply when you consider the prices the likes of Anthony Elanga and Noni Madueke are about to sell for.
Cunha is a considerably better player, and Wolves probably sold him for around £10 million cheaper than his true market value.
But potentially, player power may have prevailed.
Matheus Cunha for Wolves (January 2023-2025)
Appearances – 92
Goals – 33
Assists – 15
Wolves may well have feared losing Cunha in January, and that was not something they were prepared to risk.
Of course, Wolves could still have turned down all incoming offers for Cunha. But there was a need to keep the player happy.
Obviously in the end, it transpired that Wolves actually played just fine without Cunha when he was suspended for four games.
So perhaps agreeing to insert that £62.5 million was ultimately unnecessary.