Matheus Cunha reflects on his first-ever meeting against Manchester United, eight years ago, in the Dallas Cup.
A positive start to the transfer window saw Manchester United announce the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves. The deal is worth £62.5 million and will see the Brazilian remain at Old Trafford until June 2030, with the option of an additional year.
Cunha, 26, arrives at Old Trafford with plenty of experience playing in the Premier League. He scored 15 goals and registered six assists in the top-flight last term.
Ruben Amorim hopes that Cunha will help ease United’s problems in front of goal, although the head coach will require further signings to make a real difference next season.
United fans have got to see plenty of Cunha over the years as he starred in multiple games against the Red Devils, especially since moving his career to England.
Cunha has made five appearances against United since joining Wolves, winning two games and making three goal contributions. He also played against the Red Devils before his senior career began.
Cunha reflects on first match against Man Utd
Although Cunha missed two matches against United during his time at Atletico Madrid with a knee injury, he had already experienced playing against the club from his youth career.
Cunha was on United’s radar as far back as 2017 after impressing for Brazilian club Coritiba against the Red Devils at the Dallas Cup youth tournament.
The forward was 17 at the time, and he still remembers taking on the Reds in the United States as a youth player, after revealing that he still has a keepsake from the game.
“I have the photo [of playing against United].” Cunha told ManUtd.com.
“I don’t know why but I always keep this photo in my phone, but I think something inside of me says your way will be together one day!
“And I think this game was the biggest change in my life because I played for Coritiba at the time and, when they played against United, I am young — I think the competition was Under-20 and then I was 17 or 18 at the time — when I played against United, the competition is starting to talk about me a little bit.
“I remember the director at the time, who flew with United, goes to ask the director at Coritiba who I am. And the director comes to me and says: ‘Look, you can be promoted to the first team, the guys at United decided to ask about you.’
“And I’m so excited, imagining a dream where I go to United and, after that, the conversation stopped! But, I think after this, the Switzerland club, Sion, say: ‘If this guy has something to talk about for the director of United, then we need to pick him!’
“About this game, I think this is where I started my journey.”
Cunha also revealed that United showed an interest in him as a teenager. Hopefully, now, he can go on to become a legend at the club.
Cunha record against Man Utd
Cunha played against United five times in three years.
Scoring once and registering two assists, Cunha was on the winning side on two occasions.
Cunha’s arrival will bolster Amorim’s attacking options. It should make United a greater force when they visit Molineux next season.
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