Is the £62.5 million 'blockbuster' an emotional gamble for MU?

In an era where football is increasingly framed by tactics and calculations, Matheus Cunha is a breath of fresh air - a player who plays by instinct, lives by emotion and refuses to become a "machine".

Matheus Cunha is a breath of fresh air.

With rumours that the Brazilian striker is set to arrive at Old Trafford after the 2024/25 season, Man Utd fans have reason to be hopeful - and also a lot of reasons to wonder.

Not a machine - Cunha plays football with heart

When asked if he considered football a “serious job”, Cunha once replied simply: “I don’t want to be a robot. I want to enjoy it.”

It's not just a saying. On the pitch, he moves spontaneously, sometimes away from his tactical position, but brings explosive moments that few players create.

Cunha is the type of player that modern football is losing: creative, unconventional and unpredictable. With Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim using a 3-4-3 system, the Brazilian striker could take on the “left-sided number 10” role – where he excelled at Wolves.

Not only does he score goals, he also creates, dribbles and disrupts opposing defenses. In the 2024/25 season, Cunha scored 15 goals and had 6 assists in the Premier League.

Cunha is about to join Manchester United.

But with inspiration comes impulsiveness. Cunha has been handed two major bans in one season: once after a defeat to Ipswich, and once in a tense FA Cup tie. He has openly criticised the local media when he has come under scrutiny, despite remaining a firm favourite with Wolves fans. Will that freedom be tolerated at Manchester United, where the pressure and expectations are much greater?

No one in the Wolves dressing room doubts Cunha’s talent. Rodrigo Gomes describes him as a player who “can create chances at any time, even when surrounded by three or four players”. Veteran defender Nelson Semedo – who has played alongside Messi and Ronaldo – has genuine praise: “He comes from a good family, has Brazilian technical qualities and is at the peak of his career.”

Semedo also revealed that in a game against Man Utd, when Wolves were leading, the team was playing a tight defense. But Cunha was different - he wanted to push forward, he wanted to score more, he wanted more. That hunger is sometimes controversial, but it is also the driving force that makes him stand out.

Cunha is not the ideal centre-forward either. Former Wolves manager Gary O'Neil tried to mould him into a number 9 - because he had no other choice. But Cunha does not have Haaland's instinct to "hunt" in the penalty area, does not run continuously, does not press defenders like a classic centre-forward.

He likes to drop deep, hold the ball up, turn and progress the game – more of a playmaker than a goalscorer. But Cunha has improved his finishing – notably with a hat-trick against Chelsea – and has continued to make his mark in big games, including a superb performance at Old Trafford despite Wolves losing.

Cunha has an explosive 2024/25 season.

The story between Cunha and coach O'Neil is also a testament to his hot-tempered but ambitious nature. After being substituted in one of the best games of the season, Cunha was upset, even rebellious. But then, the coach did not punish him but instead talked to him. And thanks to that understanding, Cunha exploded, becoming the brightest star at Molineux for two consecutive seasons.

A recognized talent - but needs its own ecosystem

At 25, Cunha is entering the prime of his career. His talent, creativity, and ability on the pitch are no longer in question. The question is, do Man Utd have the environment – and the patience – to help this “arrogant” reach his full potential?

In a team struggling to find its identity and effectiveness, Cunha's presence could bring something different. He is not the ideal solution for every system, but he could be the piece that creates a breakthrough.

Matheus Cunha is not an easy player to coach, nor is he a striker who can be “fitted” into a tactical scheme. But if used properly, he could become the new emotive figure at Old Trafford – a place that has seen mavericks like Eric Cantona and Carlos Tevez make history.

Man Utd will not be getting a machine. They will be getting an artist. And if they can find the inspiration to inspire that artist, Old Trafford will shine again.

Source: https://znews.vn/bom-tan-62-5-trieu-bang-la-canh-bac-cam-xuc-cua-mu-post1554333.html