It’s interesting to note that a team like Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United that lacks physicality and strength are now clearly looking to beef their team up.
In a game vs Wolves in the Winter that was part of Amorim’s harsh welcome to Premier League life, United were utterly bullied.
Bruno Fernandes was sent off and though it was manager Vitor Pereira’s first game in charge every duel or tackle it felt was won by the Wolverhampton based side.
Reports have surfaced linking United to Bryan Mbeumo, Liam Delap and a deal has been sealed for Matheus Cunha.
Cunha scored that day in Wolves where the Red Devils were well beaten, exploiting the defence’s rancid weakness of conceding from corners by scoring directly from one.
So what do you do as an elite side against forwards that ran rings around you? Buy them of course.
Cunha is an exciting transfer, a Premier League proven player that has helped keep Wolves in the Premier League almost singlehandedly.
After floundering under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid starting just 10 games in two seasons, Cunha has been revitalised in West Midlands becoming Wolves’ talisman in the process.
Make no mistake about it the £62.5m full package United intent to pay Wolves in instalments is worth the price for a player this good.
It’s worth dissecting why Cunha can galvanise Old Trafford:
Versatility
Cunha has played in various different positions since arriving at Wolves.
Predominantly as a number 10 but he can play anywhere in the front line: left wing, right wing and has really developed as a striker which is where Gary O’Neil liked to play him.
Additionally, his work rate, tenacity, aggression and physicality means that he can also (if needed) play in midfield.
But the point isn’t really that United would be signing Cunha to play in a midfield two, it’s more so that wherever he plays be it on the left or right wing or as as a striker, the point would be to get him on the pitch and let him roam.
With Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and maybe Mason Mount on the pitch I think the intention is to play several players in the team that can drop deep for the ball and find gaps wherever on the pitch.
Attacking Style
Cunha’s versatility feeds how unique he is in attack.
As he can play in various positions the emphasis and penetration comes from the fact he can be dangerous anywhere on the pitch.
Matheus Cunha sends a cross in from wide
From this original assist, he starts dropping deep in the left half-space and eventually sends a cross in for Wolves to convert.
Cunha directly addresses so many problems that United currently have.
Think of what Amorim’s system needs, the two 10’s on either side of the striker are meant to drop deep, receive the ball and turn, but they both find it hard to find space when marked.
Cunha has carried a team on his back and finds space when dropping, even when there have been multiple defenders attempting to track or mark him as they know he is the most dangerous player for Wolves.
Matheus Cunha dribbles past players to get the ball away from defence and into attack
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What exactly do Man Utd lack in the middle of the pitch?
Well, someone who can do what Kobbie Mainoo was doing in 23/24, taking the ball out from defence into attack, unperturbed by pressing or players trying to get the ball from him.
Ball-carrying is strikingly something that none of the United players can currently do. Bar maybe Amad Diallo who is largely isolated out wide.
Cunha can carry the ball wherever he is on the pitch and take defenders out in the process.
It may have helped that the Brazilian had to do the heavy lifting for Wolves in attack as when he arrives at Old Trafford, his ability to make something out of nothing needs to be kept.
There were times for Wolves where he would face up to three defenders on the by-line in the penalty area, dribble past them before unleashing a lethal shot.
There is too much predictability in what the Red Devils do in attack:
Play it along the back three
Realise the midfielders and attackers dropping deep are marked
Go long to Hojlund who cannot make the ball stick
Adding in Cunha’s whimsicality in attack changes this.
He doesn’t care where he is on the pitch he can conjure something up.
Goalscoring Prowess
It’s obvious with the way United are approaching the transfer window, that they feel goals is seriously lacking in the team and the area of priority.
It would be hard to disagree.
It was a problem under Erik ten Hag who relied on Marcus Rashford’s stalwart season in 22/23 and resorted to any experiment in 23/24 including throwing Scott Mctominay into the fold as an attacking midfielder.
Cunha once again may have the solution for this.
40 goal contributions in two seasons in the league with a knack and ability to arrive late in the box or cause havoc inside it.
There is no getting past it, careers normally go to die at Manchester United and signings no matter how big don’t thrive.
But with Matheus Cunha, United will be getting an attacker who is physical in a tough league, can dribble and score.
The odds are well in favour of the Brazilian succeeding.