Ben Foster has now revealed what separates former Wolves ace Matheus Cunha at Manchester United compared with ex-Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo at Manchester City.
Matheus Cunha was a major summer signing for Manchester United ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign after his stunning impact at Wolves last season.
United triggered the hefty £62.5m release clause that was in the 26-year-old Brazilian forward’s Wolves contract and Cunha arrived at Old Trafford last June.
Antoine Semenyo kicked off the 2025-26 Premier League season with Bournemouth before the 26-year-old winger completed a high-profile move to Manchester City.
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Matheus Cunha reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James’ Park in 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
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Ben Foster compares Matheus Cunha’s move to Man Utd vs Antoine Semenyo’s time at Man City so far
Manchester United were linked with Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, but the Red Devils did not snap up the former Bournemouth ace.
City triggered the £62.5m release clause of the Ghana international and United’s rivals agreed to a deal worth £65m overall to bring Semenyo to the Etihad.
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Semenyo has scored seven times and registered two assists in 13 matches for City, but Ben Foster added that he can see a “change” with him unlike Matheus Cunha.
“I try and watch the players, their sort of mentality and what effect they have on the team and how they carry themselves,” he said on the Fozcast podcast.
“And I think Matheus Cunha does it better. Matheus Cunha, we knew how good he was at Wolves.
“He was brilliant. He was like their main focal point, the main player for them, scored most of the goals, got everything going.
“And when you sign for a big boy like Semenyo, sometimes you can see that change a little bit.”
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Ben Foster on why Man Utd star Matheus Cunha and Man City ace Antoine Semenyo are not like other players
Cunha has impressed in his debut season at Old Trafford and the Brazil international has netted six times and registered three assists in 28 matches in all competitions.
Foster added that players like United summer signing Cunha can step up to the big challenge of playing for a club like the Red Devils without changing who they are.
“They don’t really carry it on,” he continued.
“They just sort of take the foot off the gas a little bit. He’s gone to United and he’s that same guy still.
“He’s still that guy amongst better players. You know, you’re Bruno Fernandes in there, but he’s still one of the players where I look at him [and] I think you’re the one setting all this off here.
“You get on the ball and you get your head up. You’re looking to start stuff and get involved. And I think that bit, it’s like he’s more of a man, if that makes sense.”
Cunha has been a key attacking option for the Red Devils in the 2025-26 campaign under ex-Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim and interim head coach Michael Carrick.
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