Matheus Cunha’s move to Manchester United comes with a lot of weight and expectation on its shoulders after a shocking season from Rúben Amorim’s squad.
Manchester United are set to announce the signing of Matheus Cunha on a five-year deal, with the Brazilian forward joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee of £62.5 million.
Cunha will be Rúben Amorim’s first addition of the 2025 summer window and a vital reinforcement to a front line that has struggled throughout the season.
The £62.5 million will be paid in three instalments, beginning with an initial £20.8 million upon completion of the transfer.
The 25-year-old is expected to start on the left of United’s front three, ahead of Alejandro Garnacho, whose departure this summer now appears increasingly likely.
Cunha’s major demand to United in negotiations
While the transfer window hasn’t officially opened yet, the club has already agreed to personal terms with Cunha, amid the player’s desire to sign for the Old Trafford side this summer, with negotiations are being conducted through his representatives.
Reports have suggested that Cunha’s wage will sit at around £200,000 a week, although there have been indications elsewhere that the 26-year-old may have agreed to terms lower than this.
A fresh report from talkSPORT has now revealed that a major demand from Cunha during talks was not surrounding his wage package, but instead that the player insisted he was to be handed the iconic No. 10 shirt.
Although Marcus Rashford has held the shirt at the club since 2018, his possible departure this summer and loan to Aston Villa in January means he will be losing a grip on keeping the shirt as his under Amorim.
Further, the talkSPORT report states that those close to the Brazilian have revealed Cunha sees himself as a protagonist for the club and will relish the pressure of donning the famous No. 10 shirt at Old Trafford.
Cunha is proving Amorim right about his transfer
Amorim has been open in explaining that he feels United need more confident characters in the dressing room, with those being able to handle the pressure of elite professional football, the types of personalities needed at the club.
During a turbulent time at United, those who have experienced immense pressure throughout their careers are the ones who have thrived under Amorim. A notable trio, including Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Harry Maguire, have stepped up since the turn of 2025.
Although Cunha is younger than the trio mentioned above, he is a player who has already travelled across Europe with various clubs and has been the talisman for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the last three seasons, so he knows how to handle the pressure of being a big name at his club.
Although United will be a step up from any other experience he has had, his swagger and intention in negotiations prove to Amorim that he knows how to take his performances to the next level and handle the pressure he will endure at Old Trafford.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.