Manchester United s new core? Cunha, the "Brazil engine" of the Red Devils revival

Manchester United's summer transfer market is doomed to be uneasy. When Mattus Cunia's name is closely linked to Old Trafford, fans can't help but ask: Can this Brazilian striker, who shines in the Wolves, set off a new storm in the Red Devils and become the core puzzle in the team's future territory?

The "Wolf King" arrived, what kind of energy was injected into Manchester United?

According to multiple sources, Cunha's transfer to Manchester United is a foregone conclusion. For the Red Devils, who are in the reconstruction period, this signing is undoubtedly the first major signal in the summer window. So, what will the 26-year-old Brazil international bring to Manchester United? The answer is an offensive all-rounder who is skilled, has a strong fighting spirit, can score points and create opportunities - this is exactly the trait that Manchester United forward desires the most.

Reviewing Cunya's performance in Wolves, it can be said to be "phenomenal". Since joining in the summer of 2023, he has quickly grown into the team's offensive core. In the just-concluded 2024/25 season, he delivered the best answer for his career: 15 goals and 6 assists, directly participating in nearly 39% of the team's total goals, which is particularly rare for Wolves, which is limited in offensive firepower.

Pivot: Efficient Terminator, or Extraordinary Performance?

Cunya's shooting data was also impressive: 183 shots in the game, 82 of which were directed, far ahead of other players in the team. In the Premier League, his shots account for as much as 21.3%, which is enough to prove his threat as a terminator. What is more worth mentioning is that he is good at long-term shooting and has scored 5 goals outside the penalty area this season, second only to a few top scorers.

However, a question that cannot be ignored is: Can Cunha's "excess output" continue at Manchester United? His non-penalty xG has been 6.3 and 8.6 in the past two seasons, while his actual goals have reached 12 and 15 respectively. This means that he has exceeded expectations significantly for two consecutive years. This "dramatic" performance is usually only maintained by superstars such as Haaland, Kane, Messi, and Mbappe for a long time. Therefore, even if Cunha's finishing ability is unquestionable, whether he can maintain such high goal efficiency at Manchester United still needs time to test.

is not only a scorer, but also an offensive "hub"

If Cunia is only defined as a "scorer", it will undoubtedly underestimate his value. He is more like a rare all-round attacker in modern football:

dribbling breakthrough sharply: Last season, he was one of the players with the most dribblings (290 times), second only to Doku and Kudus. Among them, 213 dribbling occurred in the opponent's half, showing strong forward ability and threat of tearing the defense line.

Excellent opportunity creation ability: In the past two seasons, he has been one of only 15 players in the Premier League to complete more than 55 dribbling shots and create at least 35 opportunities. This means that he can not only create murderous intent on his own, but also create opportunities for his teammates to score.

Discipline flaw? There is no need to worry too much

Of course, Cunha has also had several disciplined disputes in his career, such as clashes with Ipswich security personnel resulting in a suspension and a red card in the FA Cup. In the past two seasons, he has received a total of 14 yellow cards and 1 red card. However, except for last season, he has never exceeded 5 yellow cards per season, which shows that he still has room for improvement in emotional control, but overall, this does not constitute a fundamental flaw.

The perfect fit for Amorin's tactical system

Perhaps the most critical point is that Cunha's technical characteristics are highly consistent with Manchester United's new coach Ruben Amorin's tactical philosophy. In Wolves, Cunya often plays as the "no. 10 position on the left", which is Amorin's usual offensive layout. When Wolves control the ball, they often change the lineup to 3-3-2-2, which is the tactical structure that Amorin is most familiar with during the Portuguese sports period.

If Cunya joins successfully, he will not only be competent in the position of the Shadow Front, but also be one of the double strikers or wingers, and even occasionally retreat to form the attack. This tactical flexibility will greatly enrich Manchester United's frontcourt choices. In contrast, Garnacho may find it difficult to find a suitable position in the current system, which may be one of the reasons why he left the team this summer.

For Manchester United, which is in a period of transformation, signing Cunha is not just a simple signing, but also a strategic attempt. He has both creativity, scoring ability and tactical adaptability, and is expected to become the core of offensive under the Amorin system. If he can continue his outstanding performance in the Wolves at Old Trafford, it may really be an important part of the Red Devils' resurgence.