Woodward sold Man Utd's 'big disappointment', now he's outperforming Cunha
da betcris： 16th in the Premier League table. A 17th top-flight loss of the season. As manager Ruben Amorim put it, Manchester United are now “losing the feeling of [being] a massive club”.
da winzada777： Those explosive words came amid a noteworthy post-match press conference from the Portuguese coach, following United’s dour 2-0 defeat to a struggling West Ham United side at Old Trafford.
While attention is now focused on next week’s Europa League final, the ex-Sporting CP boss appears furious with the manner in which his side are throwing in the towel domestically, having seemingly demanded a club-wide reaction to the team’s current malaise.
The only saving grace from this wretched league run is that Amorim has been afforded the time to figure out just who he wants to have onboard for next term, with work seemingly already underway in the background, ahead of the looming summer window.
Indeed, by all accounts, the Red Devils could be close to wrapping up a first deal, in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha.
The latest on Cunha's move to Man Utd
While much of United’s summer business may depend on securing Champions League qualification, via Europa League glory, Amorim has already stated that no player who “only wants” the Champions League will be moving to Manchester – as he outlined in relation to reports surrounding Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Thankfully, as far as the 40-year-old is concerned, it would appear that Cunha is willing to move to the Theatre of Dreams regardless of what happens next week, with talks for the Brazilian forward already said to be advanced.
Indeed, reports last week even claimed that personal terms had been agreed with the 26-year-old, with the former Atletico Madrid man in line to depart Molineux in the coming months, provided any suitor matches his £62.5m release clause.
While there is rival interest from the likes of Arsenal, the suggestion remains that United are the side who are leading the race at present, with Cunha deemed to be the perfect fit for one of Amorim’s number ten berths.
A player with that Eric Cantona-esque edge to his game, the fiery forward has backed up his temperamental displays with a string of standout performances this season, having chalked up 15 goals and six assists in the Premier League to date.
Top Premier League goalscorers – 24/25
Player
Goals
Assists
Games
Mo Salah
28
18
36
Alexander Isak
23
6
33
Erling Haaland
21
3
29
Chris Wood
20
3
34
Bryan Mbeumo
18
7
36
Yoane Wissa
18
3
33
Ollie Watkins
16
7
36
Cole Palmer
15
8
35
Matheus Cunha
15
6
31
Jean-Philippe Mateta
14
2
35
Stats via BBC Sport
The in-form marksman has been a real star of 2024/25, albeit while having actually been outperformed by a figure of United’s recent past, across all competitions…
The Man Utd "disappointment" who's outperforming Cunha
United supporters are wise enough not to be getting too carried away over the prospect of Cunha joining the club this summer, having seen far too many marquee moves go south in recent years.
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As club legend Gary Neville stated, Bruno Fernandes is the “only” player in the last decade to have lived up to expectations, after arriving at Old Trafford, with the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era having been littered with high-profile transfer mistakes – not least under former CEO, Ed Woodward’s watch.
Arguably the “biggest disappointment” in that period, as per Neville, was the capture of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid on a £59m deal, with the Argentine sensation joining just a matter of months on from his Man of the Match display in the 2014 Champions League final.
As the player himself later admitted, however, he never wanted to make the move to Manchester in the first place, having also described then-boss Louis van Gaal as the “worst boss I ever had”, following the dour nature of his time at the club.
There were flashes of quality, namely the playmaker’s delightful dink against Leicester City, although such moments were few and far between, with the mercurial left-footer swiftly departing for Paris Saint-Germain after just a solitary season, as Woodward and co cashed in for around £44.3m.
The now-veteran playmaker – who did rack up 15 goal involvements in 34 games for United – went on to register 212 goals and assists in Paris, prior to joining Juventus and then current side Benfica in recent years.
Back at the club where he made his name between 2007 and 2010, before moving to Madrid, the 37-year-old remains a central figure for the Lisbon outfit, amid their battle for the title.
Having re-signed in 2023, Di Maria has particularly impressed in the current campaign, after chalking up 15 goals and nine assists across 38 games in all competitions.
That return of 24 goal contributions actually places the ageing star ahead of that man Cunha, with the wantaway Wolves star registering 23 goal contributions for the Old Gold in 2024/25.
In truth, that return highlights the quality that United saw only too briefly during Di Maria’s time in Manchester, with the hope now that Cunha doesn’t follow suit, should he make his own statement switch in the near future.
Amorim’s side no doubt need a maverick, expressive talent like Cunha, although as Van Gaal found with Di Maria, the question remains as to how that individual asset will shine as part of the collective.
As Di Maria swiftly found out, no player is bigger than the club…
Related Man Utd willing to pay £38m for star who scored at Old Trafford this season
He could be exactly what Ruben Amorim is looking for.