Matheus Cunha has insisted that one first-team Manchester United player possesses the “quality to change” his future at Old Trafford after the Leeds United match on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Brazil international was a standout performer for the Red Devils at Elland Road, with Matheus Cunha making his presence felt in the final third.
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Leeds United took a 1-0 lead over Manchester United on Sunday afternoon in the second half, following Brenden Aaronson’s superb effort past Senne Lammens.
However, Cunha came to United’s rescue against Leeds only minutes after Brenden Aaronson’s first-half opener, with the Brazilian forward scoring the equaliser.
Joshua Zirkzee climbed off the bench in the second half and the United striker played through Cunha, who produced a fine finish past Leeds’ Lucas Perri.
Matheus Cunha sends a powerful message to Man Utd striker Joshua Zirkzee after the 1-1 Leeds United draw
Joshua Zirkzee linked up well with Matheus Cunha after Ruben Amorim brought the Manchester United striker on the pitch and hooked off Leny Yoro in the match.
The 24-year-old Netherlands international has been linked with an Old Trafford exit in January, with Roma keen to reportedly sign Zirkzee in a loan deal from United.
Zirkzee has struggled to secure regular United first-team minutes in the 2025-26 Premier League season after falling down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim.
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Speaking after United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds, Cunha has said that Zirkzee could still play an important role at the Premier League club instead of leaving in January.
“Josh is a pleasure to play with; he has a lot of quality,” he told BBC’s Match of the Day, as per BBC Sport.
“His situation is not good, but he has the quality to change it. He needs to understand this and we want to count on him.
“We are here to push him. After the goal last week and the assist today, he will have more confidence to be with us and do his role.”
Matheus Cunha on what happened in the first half of Man Utd’s Premier League clash against Leeds United
Cunha came close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening 10 minutes after the former Wolves ace’s fantastic volley landed in the back of the Leeds net.
However, the Brazil international’s effort was ruled out due to an offside call and Cunha admitted that he was baffled by the decision on Sunday afternoon.
SHOULD Matheus Cunha’s disallowed goal vs Leeds have stood?🤔
Mark Clattenburg explains to United in Focus why the goal was ruled offside…
“The offside flag was raised to disallow the goal as Sesko was in an offside position.
“If Sesko had not gone to challenge his opponent for the ball even though he did not touch it, he clearly affected the defender’s ability to play the ball with contact being made, then a goal may have been awarded.”
“Honestly, I don’t understand,” he said.
“I talked to the referee and I asked him, ‘Who was offside?,’ and he said Ben [Sesko]. I think but I don’t remember him participating in the action.
“It was Casemiro who gave the ball to me and then I shot, so I’m not sure where Sesko is. For me, it was a little bit frustrating.”
Cunha has scored four times and registered an assist in 17 Premier League matches across all competitions since last summer’s blockbuster transfer from Wolves.
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