Matheus Cunha has been at the centre of major comparisons with Eric Cantona after his impact for Manchester United against Brighton at Old Trafford last Saturday.
The 26-year-old Manchester United star has impressed with his performances this season, despite failing to put up the same goalscoring output as Bryan Mbeumo.
Matheus Cunha went his first seven Premier League matches for United – eight across all competitions – without finding the back of the net since his summer move.
But the former Wolves ace finally opened his United goalscoring account last weekend, with Brazil teammate Casemiro setting him up in the first half.
Cunha received the ball from Casemiro outside of the box before the United star set himself up for a long-range strike, which curled into the bottom corner of the net.
The Brazil international was able to breathe a sigh of relief after United’s 4-2 win over Brighton, with Cunha finally being rewarded for his superb performance.
Man Utd legend Eric Cantona has his name being linked with summer signing Matheus Cunha now
Ruben Amorim is a big fan of Matheus Cunha and it feels that sentiment is equally shared by Manchester United fans after the ex-Wolves star’s arrival in the summer.
Cunha was first through the doors at Old Trafford when it came to Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s major summer spending spree for United manager Ruben Amorim.
The Brazil forward had his release clause at Premier League side Wolves triggered in June and United paid a hefty £62.5m to pry Cunha away from the Molineux.
Cunha’s bravado and his creative flair have unsurprisingly led to comparisons with Eric Cantona, a transformative figure in the Red Devils’ longstanding history.
Even United legend Steve Bruce was asked about Cunha and the former Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig player having his name linked to Eric Cantona’s.
Cunha is getting huge praise with the shades of Cantona that people are seeing, but another United star’s aura at Old Trafford is truly unrivalled by anyone else.
Matheus Cunha still has a long way ahead of him before he can rival Lisandro Martinez’s presence at Man Utd
Lisandro Martinez was in United first-team training on Wednesday and the news that the Argentine defender is inching closer to his return was music to the ears of fans.
Adam Marshall revealed all behind Lisandro Martinez being involved in training at the Carrington complex in an opinion piece for Manchester United’s official website.
Martinez missed the second half of the 2024-25 Premier League season due to injury and the United defender has been absent from the opening months of the 2025-26 campaign.
However, Adam Marshall explained how Joshua Zirkzee lifted the 27-year-old World Cup winner off the floor with a huge “bear hug” on Martinez’s return to training.
Joshua Zirkzee wasn’t alone in his excitement, with both Ruben Amorim and Manuel Ugarte ‘welcoming’ the injured Martinez after he entered the training pitch at United.
Amorim has missed United defender Martinez and the Argentina international’s missing aura is felt each and every time he has been injured, including for the players and the fans.
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