Wolves manager Vitor Pereira has explained the key change Matheus Cunha made last season that helped lead to his £62.5 million Manchester United move.
Earlier this month, Manchester United finalised the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £62.5 million deal.
The Brazilian forward became Rúben Amorim’s first addition of the summer and a key figure in United’s plan to revamp their squad early in the transfer window. He signed a five-year contract with the club.
The transfer fee will be split into three instalments, starting with an upfront payment of £20.8 million, followed by two further payments over the next 12 months.
Cunha is expected to take up a role on the left wing, with Alejandro Garnacho likely to leave the club this summer. The 20-year-old is attracting growing interest from clubs both in the Premier League and across Europe.
Cunha’s biggest change last season explained by Pereira
Cunha’s best individual campaign came last season, with the 26-year-old scoring 15 Premier League goals – the joint most ever netted by a Brazilian, alongside Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino.
Wolves themselves had a very turbulent season, finishing 16th in the Premier League. At one point, they were facing a real threat of relegation, but the appointment of Vitor Pereira in December 2024 steadied the ship.
Speaking to the Spanish outlet Marca, Pereira opened up on Cunha’s move to United, explaining that one of the most significant reasons for the Brazilian’s fantastic football last season is that he learned how to become a team player.
“He’s a special player, capable of deciding a match in seconds,” Pereira explained. “He has enormous talent. I gave him confidence to put his talent to work for the team, and he’s contributed a lot.
“However, he felt he had to leave, and now he’ll have the opportunity to reaffirm his position at a club like Manchester United.”
This will be music to Amorim’s ears
Too often at United last season, it felt as if United’s attacks broke down due to insufficient communication across the front line, with players failing to connect.
While those like Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes are team-first players, others, such as Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund, often appear too focused on their individual game to blend in with the rest.
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Cunha is well known for his individual flair, but his growth as a player who understands how to work as part of a team will help take him to a new level at United, and Amorim will be grateful to have such a fantastic team player at his disposal.
The player’s pending role in Amorim’s team will help left wing-back Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu connect with the rest of the squad while also supplying the striker and contributing to the goal tally, too.
It will put a lot of responsibility on United’s new Brazilian, but the player has already explained he feels he can shoulder the burden and help deliver United back to the top of the English and European pyramid.
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