From Boxing Day brilliance at Molineux to a £62.5M switch to Old Trafford — why Cunha might be the spark Ruben Amorim’s tactical revolution needs
On Boxing Day 2024, under the floodlights at Molineux Stadium, Manchester United found themselves stunned by a moment of outrageous brilliance. A corner kick from the left side, curling directly into the far corner of Andre Onana’s net, left the goalkeeper motionless and the home crowd in raptures. The goalscorer? None other than Matheus Cunha — the Brazilian forward whose audacity that night summed up everything fans crave in the modern game.
Fast forward a few months, and that same player is now walking out at Old Trafford, having completed a £62.5 million move that could be the key to unlocking Ruben Amorim’s increasingly scrutinized project at Manchester United. But this isn’t another marquee signing based on marketing hype or last-minute panic. Cunha’s arrival makes tactical sense, solves real problems, and brings the sort of instinctive magic that United fans have long associated with their club’s greatest attackers.
Amorim’s Tactical Puzzle – And How Cunha Fits In
United ended the 2024–25 season with just 44 goals in 38 Premier League games — their lowest in the modern era. Amorim’s favored 3-4-2-1 system has struggled to find fluency, largely because of a lack of players capable of occupying the crucial dual number 10 roles. Cunha, who excelled as a left-sided 10 under both Gary O’Neil and Vitor Pereira at Wolves, brings the exact profile Amorim has been searching for.
His numbers are staggering. In a struggling Wolves team that finished 16th, Cunha contributed 15 goals and 6 assists in the league. According to Opta, he had an expected goals tally of just 9.3, meaning he outperformed his xG by a massive margin. This isn’t a lucky streak — it’s a sign of a player who manufactures magic from low-probability scenarios.
A Perfect Fit for the System
Cunha’s comfort in the half-spaces, ability to receive vertical passes, and instinct for progressing the ball through tight spaces align seamlessly with Amorim’s tactical philosophy. His ball-carrying metrics are elite:
- 4th in the league for carries into the final third (95)
- 9th for completed take-ons (125)
- 6th for shots attempted after a carry (34)
- 6th for chances created from carries (23)
These aren’t just analytics — they are the blueprint for the kind of attacking structure Amorim brought to life at Sporting CP.
While Bruno Fernandes shouldered nearly 41% of United’s attacking output last season, Cunha could finally give him a creative partner. Together, they could shift the burden from individual moments of brilliance to a cohesive attacking unit built on structured chaos.
Defensive Work and Positional Versatility
Cunha’s pressing game is another undervalued asset. Among Premier League forwards, he ranked:
- 3rd for interceptions
- 6th for possessions won
This makes him an ideal cog in Amorim’s high-press system — not just a flair player, but one who buys into the team’s defensive responsibilities.
Tactically, Cunha offers exceptional flexibility. Edu Rubio, former Wolves assistant coach, praised his ability to play as an 8, 10, second striker, or even a center forward. For a manager who thrives on positional interchange and tactical adaptability, that kind of versatility is gold.
The X-Factor and United’s DNA
Then there’s Cunha’s maverick streak. A player who scores directly from corners, creates goals from impossible angles, and thrives on instinct — he embodies the kind of flair that has historically lit up Old Trafford. As Ian Burchnall put it, Cunha “feels the game,” operating less by design and more by intuition. That unpredictability could be exactly what United need to unstitch deep blocks and win tight games.
Let’s not forget, Cunha also scored six goals from outside the box last season — a weapon United have sorely lacked.
A Statement of Intent – But Just the Start
At £62.5 million, this is more than just a calculated transfer. It’s a vote of confidence in Amorim’s long-term vision and a belief that structure and talent can coexist. At just 26 years old, Cunha is in his prime, capable of becoming the cornerstone of United’s new era.
But let’s be clear — he cannot be the final piece. For United to truly re-emerge as a force, further reinforcements are essential. Rumors suggest Bryan Mbeumo is next on the list, and rightly so. More creativity, more depth, and more quality are still needed across the pitch. The squad also needs a clear-out of underperforming players who have overstayed their welcome.
Conclusion: Transformation Starts Now
Matheus Cunha isn’t a miracle worker — but he might be the catalyst Amorim’s system needs. His ability to combine tactical intelligence with explosive creativity is rare, and his performances at Wolves suggest he’s more than ready for the leap to elite-level football.
The transformation of Manchester United won’t happen overnight. But with Cunha in red, it might happen a lot faster than expected.
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