After yesterday's official confirmation on the club's first signing of the transfer window, everyone will now look to see how he fits into Ruben Amorim's setup and what it could mean for others.
Some would say that the now former Wolves man will slot right into the side without any issues especially taking into account that he's been used to a 3-4-3 system during his 2-and-a-half years at Wolves.
We know that United have players who aren't suited to this system as they have been used to 4-2-3-1 for so many years. There were also recent complaints about how this system isn't actually suited to them and wanted Amorim to change his setup so as to accommodate his current squad.
As the United manager is remaining defiant on his system and approach, it means that there is only one thing: move on those who can't play in this setup and bring in those who can.
Cunha can which means we've ticked one box already. More players like him are required though.
The recently-turned 26 year old is a player who can play all about the front line as he is quite versatile. Whilst he is better off as one of the two no 10s, his time at RB Leipzig tells us that he can also do a job as that no 9, which is another area that we need to improve. Cunha isn't a direct replacement for Rasmus Hojlund at all but at least we know that we can use him up front if needs must although it will take away from his best attributes.
Those attributes includes close ball control and driving ability whilst in possession. His passing is also another area that is a positive to his game. Cunha had 15 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League this past season. In contrast, United's skipper Bruno Fernandes has just 8 goals almost 50% fewer than Cunha. The Portuguese magnifico does however, have almost double the assists as his new Brazilian teammate with 11.
Ideally, you would want two creatives like Cunha and Bruno in your team and in this 3-4-2-1 formation, it gives you the chance to play them both. However, with the captain's future in doubt and manager Ruben Amorim still unable to find Bruno's best position (is he a no 10, no 8 or no 6?), will we see these two play together at all?
Not only is Bruno's future uncertain, but so is the future of many in this team. Alejandro Garnacho is one that we know from reports that Amorim wants moved on and with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony also players who need to be sold, who is best to partner Cunha as that no 10 assuming he is going to be a starter, which I believe he will, remains to be seen.
Mason Mount
The Englishman is the first name that comes to mind because he is a no 10 and also Ruben Amorim's adopted son besides (not really but YKWIM). Every time the United boss speaks about the Chelsea man err, former Chelsea man 😅, there is an undeniable glow on the manager's face.
He's spoken about how hard Mount has been working off the field in order to get back to full fitness and believes he is perfectly suited to this system. To be fair to Amorim, Mount is ideal for a 3-4-3 after having been Chelsea's best player in it for two years whilst Thomas Tuchel was in charge of the Blues.
That formation got the best out of him and we saw just how good a player he was.
I feel like it isn't necessarily a question about the no 7's quality but more about reliability in terms of fitness. We've seen just how injury prone he's been since joining the club.
But with that being said, when he has featured for United, the only time where he looked anywhere near the player we signed was in that 30 minute spell off the bench in the 4-1 win over Athletic Club. Other than that, he's been shite and still begs the question of why he was bought in the first place?
Not sure what Erik ten Hag was thinking about that and nor does he suit a 4-2-3-1 formation as well as he does the 3-4-3. That made this deal make even less sense.
Kobbie Mainoo
The United academy product is another player whom like Bruno, it's difficult to see where he is best suited in this lineup. Some say he's better as a no 10 due to his close ball control, quick feet and composure in that final third. Others that we can use some of that ball-playing ability a little deeper as a no 8.
Neither position has seen the best of Mainoo though as the youngster has been struggling to find any rhythm (injuries didn't help with this) or the form he showed in that breakthrough season in the first team in 23/24.
I also don't know where his best position is. At times, he's looked great in either role but at others, he's appeared lost and out of the game. I find that his causal approach isn't necessarily suited to playing as a no 8 (at least not yet in his career) but it also doesn't work further forward because we need a bit more intensity and creativity which Mainoo doesn't possess either.
It was a really disappointing campaign for the 20 year old as evidence suggests that the manager struggled to find his best position as he usually opted for Mount instead (to everyone's frustrations) and cameo appearances for Mainoo.
I doubt he's the one who will play next to Cunha.
On top of it all, what is his future as that is uncertain as well.
Joshua Zirkzee
The Dutchman was displaying his best qualities before he unfortunately got what was said to be a season-ending hamstring injury in mid-April against Newcaslte. However, miraculously to everyone's surprise, the 23 year old managed to get himself fit enough to feature in the Europa League final off the bench.
He was then unused in the tour to Malaysia and Hong Kong as he picked up an issue that manager Amorim didn't want to worsen further.
But what he did show since the turn of the year until that injury was a player that does work in this system. Before he arrived, Zirkzee himself said he was more of a 9.5 as he is no pure goal scorer but better a little deeper. Upon using him up front, this was plain to see as the Dutchman's best attributes aren't that of a proper striker.
However, playing as one of the CAMs, we started to see just what this guy was all about.
There were references to Ronaldinho whilst he was in Italy and one can see the resemblance, to some extent. Zirkzee is relatively tricky and quick of foot with those double nutmegs on William Saliba still being a standout moment of that forgetful season.
He also displays an ability to drive with the ball as he too possesses that close control similarly to both Cunha and Mainoo. But as he is so similar to United's new signing, I don't think he and Cunha will actually make the best of partnerships. Ideally, you want that balance in that you have a player like Cunha or Zirkzee with someone who is more robust, intense and energetic whilst maintaining that level of creativity.
We won't have that with them as the 10s.
Amad
⬆ he is probably the player who compliments Cunha best.
Amad is another who is versatile with many undecided on where his best position lies. Is he a no 10 or a RWB? Regardless of the position though, it's clear that everyone wants him to be in the starting lineup.
We saw just how much of a miss he was to United when he was injured for almost two months. Once he returned, he showed us the player we missed and why he was so important before his injury.
Amad had 11 goals and 10 assists in 43 games which is the same as Garnacho who played 15 more matches than the Ivorian. Only captain magnifico with 19 goals and 20 assists recored more goal contributions than Amad.
We also know the qualities of the 22 year old as the forward is another who has quick enough feet, is relatively tricky, can run with the ball and is very much a creative. He is also one of the more unselfish players in the team and that has been a serious issue of ours for so many years as there are far too many individuals in this side.
When you look at the big chances created in this past season in the league, Bruno has 16 which is unsurprisingly the most for United whilst Amad has the second-most although he is quite a way behind on 7. Imagine how many he could've had had he been more available.
Matheus Cunha had 13 for a struggling Wolves outfit in 33 matches.
United's other main attacker in Garnacho was well behind his captain with just 4 big chances created. We know that he can be quite selfish which is why this number is so low.
Another stat that is of concern is the amount of shots taken. Again, captain Fernandes is at the top of the charts with 96 followed by Garnacho with 84 and a way back Amad, on 47 tells you that we have too many players who shoot too often.
Our strikers? Hojlund sits on 32 whilst Zirkzee is on 28. Between the two, they would still only be third on this list 24 behind Garnacho and 36 behind Bruno.
Our no 9s are definitely not good enough but you cannot deny that they don't get enough service. Hojlund is in 56th position in terms of most shots for all forwards whereas Zirkzee is 60th.
Those are Man Utd strikers 😐.
However, Matheus Cunha has even more than Bruno with 110! So he too can be quite trigger happy.
We need to sort out that problem of forwards wanting to shoot more than pass.
However, I think out of all these players, Bruno is probably best suited to play alongside Cunha. As the captain's future is unknown though, I would go with Amad as the next best. His output is better than the rest and he is also more available than someone like Mount who is also below par in terms of what he's produced.
I think Cunha and Amad will cause more damage than any of our other combos and their work rates is also pretty good. Cunha can be a little lazy at times and is an area that needs improving but he will certainly do his bit. We know that Amad works hard but so does Bruno and Mount which again, are reasons they can play with the new Brazilian.
Final Thoughts
We'll obviously have to wait and see who will play alongside Cunha and who is actually best suited as his partner. With less football next season, there will be more time for Amorim to perfect his system on the training ground and a player like Cunha who's already been playing it for a while, will help in transforming this team and at a faster pace.
The Brazilian has had his disciplinary issues over the last season but I believe our team needs players like him, ones with a bit of fight and character. I don't think we have enough of those.
That South American flair will also be there as the quality of Cunha is next level.
Hopwfully we don't make him shit though as we've done with many players in the past. They join United as one hell of a player only for them to become a shadow of their former selves causing everyone to wonder what the fuck happened?
They then leave and find themselves again. We cannot afford to let this happen again and that's why it's on the club to reset the culture to a point where we don't see such things and also just give us hope for the future.
As mentioned, Cunha is a good start to the window but much more needs to be done in order for us to truly believe we are heading in the right direction.
But who do you think will be Cunha's best partner? Do you think he'll be a regular starter at all?
Ruben Amorim will have to find the ideal partner for Matheus Cunha at Man Utd | Matheus Cunha: Creator: Ryan Pierse | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2025 Getty Images via Goal