Matheus Cunha’s arrival at Manchester United this summer is good news for the club and some certain individual players in particular.
Manchester United announced the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves on a five-year contract worth £62.5 million on the weekend, subject to visa and registration clearance.
The 26-year-old Brazilian becomes Ruben Amorim’s first signing of the summer, marking an early move to strengthen the squad ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Cunha is regarded as a vital addition to United’s struggling attack and is expected to provide a much-needed boost in quality and intensity up front.
Last term, United only scored 44 goals in the Premier League and many players struggled to finish their chances in the final third.
There is an expectation that Cunha will help in this department, while also aiding other members of the squad at Old Trafford. Below, UtdDistrict have noted the three players would could benefit most from Cunha’s arrival.
Patrick Dorgu
Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu arrived at United in the most recent January transfer window and has been a solid enough signing for £20 million.
The wingback was described as “anxious” by Amorim in his early weeks and that has continued throughout the campaign. He has showcased the physical abilities needed to succeed but doesn’t seem to be on the same wavelength as some of his teammates.
For example, he and Alejandro Garnacho failed to build any sort of relationship on the left side of United’s attack despite playing so many games together. In fairness to Dorgu, he would constantly make attacking runs and be ignored by the Argentine.
In contrast, during his time at Wolves, Cunha struck up an incredible relationship with Rayan Aït-Nouri at left wingback, with the pair consistently linking up and benefiting each other.
While there may be some difference in qualities between Aït-Nouri and Dorgu, if the Danish international can build any kind of positive relationship with Cunha next season then he will be better off than he is now.
Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo has had a difficult year at Old Trafford after a stunning start to his professional career. Some people need to remember that these things happen to young players.
There have been question marks over his best position in Amorim’s system – right now it seems like he’s preferred in the no.10 role but would be better playing deeper if he can improve physically.
Cunha will be taking up time on the left-sided no.10 role, which means Mainoo would likely either be playing slightly behind the Brazilian or alongside him in the advanced positions.
Either way, a fully fit Mainoo plays his best football linking with teammates in tight spaces and there aren’t many players at Old Trafford who can do the same – Cunha will be one of them.
In an ideal world, Amorim wants his deeper players to be able to find those no.10s in the pockets a lot more often than United did last season. Mainoo can fill the role of the supplier and Cunha is brilliant receiving on the half-turn and driving forward.
While his position in the team still feels like it needs developing, this summer will be important for Mainoo and then he could end up flourishing alongside Cunha in the United team.
Bruno Fernandes
Finally, Bruno Fernandes is another player who will benefit from Cunha joining the side – that is if he stays at Old Trafford next season.
“Welcome to Old Trafford,” the club captain wrote on his Instagram this week. Some will be praying that is an indication that he will reject Al-Hilal’s mouth-watering offer.
Should he remain at the club, Fernandes will benefit a lot from the addition of Cunha. For one, there will be another player ready to shoulder the burden of being a United player, and Fernandes hasn’t played with many of them during his time with the club.
But also, similarly to Mainoo, if the Portuguese star is playing in that slightly deeper role, then he loves to have options. Players to pass to between the lines. And Cunha will provide that option.
Otherwise, Fernandes will also benefit from the fact that there’s another danger-man in United’s team. He scored 19 goals and registered 20 assists last season but opposition teams often knew if they focused on him then the entire team would struggle.
Having Cunha – and hopefully more attacking options – next season will make United less predictable, able to score more goals and potentially allow Fernandes to excel even more with less focus on him saving the team from struggles.
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