Matheus Cunha has completed his £62.5million transfer to Manchester United from Wolves and already has his eyes set on his new number, according to one Red Devils icon
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Rio Ferdinand.
Rio Ferdinand believes Matheus Cunha will succeed Marcus Rashford as Manchester United's new number 10
(Image: Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Rio Ferdinand has informed Manchester United's Marcus Rashford that the club's new £62.5million signing, Matheus Cunha, will be taking over the No. 10 shirt at Old Trafford.
Cunha, 26, has officially made the move from Wolves to join the Red Devils on a five-year contract lasting until June 2030, with an option to extend his stay by an additional year.
While United confirmed the forward's arrival on Sunday afternoon, after he was seen residing at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester with his family, images of the Brazilian in his new kit weren't posted.
The lack of announcement was explained on the club's website who confirmed the arrival of the attacker was 'subject to visa and registration'. Cunha is now set to join his international colleagues in Brazil before returning to England for pre-season training following a short holiday.
Meanwhile, Rashford could potentially be departing his childhood club. The 27-year-old is currently up for sale after spending the latter half of this season on loan at Aston Villa. There has been no indication that Villa will exercise their option to purchase Rashford for the £40million asking price set by United.
Barcelona have engaged in discussions with his agent and brother, Dwaine Maynard, but the newly-crowned La Liga champions are more inclined towards a loan deal, reports the Mirror. Reports suggest that regardless of Rashford's future, Cunha will inherit his No. 10 shirt.
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United in action with Brennan Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Old Trafford on September 29, 2024 in Manchester, England
Marcus Rashford is expected to leave Manchester United again this summer
Rashford, a product of the United academy, has donned the number since 2018 but according to information from Ferdinand, it will now belong to Cunha, who wore the same number for Wolves and his previous club, Hertha Berlin.
Ferdinand shared his thoughts with his TikTok followers, saying: "One of the few players I mentioned a few weeks ago, if I had a shopping list, he would be on there. He knows the Premier League, so he doesn't need any adaptation time.
"This is a huge factor. I think if you're going to go and buy players from foreign leagues, players that don't have the experience in the Premier League, there is always a risk. He has the experience here. We've seen him here. He grew up a Man United fan.
Matheus Cunha playing for Wolves
The Brazilian star wore number 10 at Wolves
"I'm hearing he's taking the No 10 shirt, which was Rashford's shirt. What does that mean for Marcus Rashford? I don't know. There are a lot of questions that will be asked about that as well.
"Seventeen goals, six assists in 36 games for a Wolves team, I think it's impressive. I think the recruitment team for Manchester United would have seen, and the coaches here would have seen, what he did to Man United at Old Trafford. He was slicing through Man United like a hot knife through butter."