Manchester United’s pre-season tour begins this weekend in Sweden with preparations no doubt heating up at Carrington.
It was only last week that Ruben Amorim and his squad began training for pre-season ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, yet already the summer break feels a distant memory.
This summer is massive for Amorim to implement his style and system, while Ineos haven’t held up their end of completing an overhaul in the transfer market for Manchester United.
With just two signings made for the first team squad, Amorim is having to work with what he’s got for the majority.
This has seen Joshua Zirkzee catching the eye in training with his finishing looking much improved upon the player that fans became accustomed to last season. Elsewhere, Shea Lacey and Bendito Mantato have impressed and seem to be firm additions to the first team this summer.
There has been one new face catching the eye though.
Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon walking toward camera in Manchester United training.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Matheus Cunha has been impressing Ruben Amorim in training
One of the two new faces in first team training last week was Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian the marquee signing this summer.
Cunha was an instant hit in training with United supporters impressed by his ball carrying which looked unstoppable, almost two years after he tore Erik ten Hag’s team apart at Old Trafford.
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Additionally, Cunha impressed with his clinical finishing which is a welcome sign after the club were so bad in front of goal last season.
Now according to Give Me Sport, club insiders are suggesting that Amorim has been impressed with Cunha in every aspect.
The Brazilian’s positive attitude and hard work have been key factors, while he is already very popular among his new teammates, which is unsurprising after we saw his character in interviews after joining.
At Old Trafford, many believe that Cunha can replicate the impact of Sir Alex Ferguson signing Eric Cantona, sprinkling a bit of magic into a struggling United team, seen as a catalyst for better things. Omar Berrada has already compared Cunha to Cantona publicly so this is unsurprising.
Most importantly, Cunha is seen as a player to take the creative and scoring burden off Fernandes who has been a one man team for years.
Manchester United needed a player like Matheus Cunha
Signing Cunha always looked like a brilliant move, with it being undeniable that he is one of the best players in the Premier League right now. However, his on field qualities are reinforced by his off the pitch brilliance.
Despite a handful of sending offs last season which should concern the club, at Carrington over the past week Cunha has shown his true colours and as a result has won over the staff.
United need more players with a healthy confidence and leadership in their mentality which Cunha has in a similar manner to Bruno Fernandes.
The pair are both born winners and will hold their teammates to a high standard which has been lacking at Old Trafford lately. Cunha as the direct replacement for Alejandro Garnacho is a massive change for the good.
The Brazilian should be even more impactful than expected due to this.