Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker has pointed out a possible issue with Matheus Cunha that he feels only his teammates can solve.
Matheus Cunha signed for Manchester United from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a £62.5 million fee in June 2025, and was the first of three forward transfers that summer.
Rúben Amorim also brought in Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško, committing over £200 million toward a new front three to increase the club’s goals. Now, only Arsenal (28) and Manchester City (35) have more goals than United in the Premier League this season (26).
Cunha, however, has been involved in just two. The 26-year-old has put in some stunning displays at points this season against the likes of Liverpool and Brighton, but for the most part, the end-product has come elsewhere.
But, as the Brazilian settles into life at Old Trafford, there is a sense of certainty that it will only be a matter of time before his time at United clicks into place.
Cunha’s teammates need to work as hard as him
Former United defender Paul Parker played 146 times under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, and has had his say on the Brazilian.
Despite his lack of goal involvement, the Englishman waxed lyrical about Cunha’s abilities. Still, he admitted he feels the workrate of those around him compared to the forward himself could leave Cunha frustrated.
“Cunha has done very well. He is very unselfish in everything he does,” Parker said. “He never stops running, and sometimes he might even do too much, but that is just the way he is.
“His teammates need him and the team needs a player like him, because he gets the other people going. It affects his teammates a lot when he is not playing, so I really think he is important to the team.
“His attitude is great and he never gives up. Man United haven’t had a player like him for a long, long time. He is a bit like Park in a way, but quicker. He has made a massive difference. He did amazingly for Wolves and he was too good to be in that team.
“But I am worried about what he thinks about his teammates, because players like him who give everything, they can be very unhappy if his teammates are not good enough. That is a big worry, because I think he is demanding a lot.
“But in almost every other team, it would never be a worry. It is a very positive sign, but at Man United, with the players he is surrounded by, it can become an issue.”
Cunha can become so much better
Parker is right – Cunha’s work-rate and never-say-die attitude is something the club has sorely missed in the last decade, with only Bruno Fernandes really being another who has consistently shown such traits.
However, speaking last week, Amorim admitted he feels Cunha is currently far too focused on his statistics, and that once he is more settled, the player will level up and reach his true potential.
“I think he has more levels to go,” Amorim said. “He is in a different club, different pressure, but I think he copes with that really well.
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“He was struggling because he was not scoring, and he was thinking too much about the numbers.
“The influence that he has in the team is so important for us, but I think Cunha has so much to grow defensively and offensively.”
Cunha has so far played both as a left-winger and striker amid Benjamin Šeško’s injury issues. Still, once the latter returns, the Brazilian will have the chance to play more consistently in one position and build much-needed momentum.
Paul Parker was speaking to MyBettingSites.
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