Matheus Cunha has given a glowing verdict on one of his Manchester United teammates’ personalities and playing style. The Brazilian attacker has enjoyed an upturn in form at the start of the year.
The 26-year-old arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer after the club triggered a £62.5m release clause in his contract. He made a slow start at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim but has come to the fore since the turn of the year.
Cunha has impressed since Michael Carrick took charge in early January, posting two goals and one assist in five games. One of those goals was an incredible winner in a 3-2 victory against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Cunha hails Man United star
Manchester United’s four summer signings included Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens. They have all made promising starts since arriving last summer.
Cunha and Mbeumo have built a close bond in the early stages of their United careers. The Cameroonian forward has been excellent since joining from Brentford in a £70m deal.
Mbeumo has bagged 10 goals in 22 games across competitions, and his versatility has been hugely beneficial. The 26-year-old has led the line under Carrick and had been a key player during the latter months of Amorim’s tenure.
Cunha waxed lyrical about his teammate in an interview with Premier League Productions:
“A lot of energy. What a lovely guy. I’m around him every day, he’s someone that is fun. I always play against him, and we talk about the games that we played in the past, Brentford against Wolves.”
Mbeumo and Cunha’s close relationship has been on display during celebrations of one of their goals together. The Cameroonian pulled out the Brazilian’s surfer celebration when he netted in a 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur.
Cunha added: “He’s very intelligent, he’s very clever, so he can use his strength very, very good, like going to space, he shoots so well, so good. This is the kind of number nine we need to have.”
Magnificent Mbeumo
Mbeumo was one of the Premier League’s most potent goalscorers for Brentford last season. He finished joint-fourth in the Golden Boot race with 20 goals.
The Cameroonian is increasingly being acknowledged as one of the very best wingers in Europe. Cunha has always rated the versatile attacker highly:
“Of course, he’s someone that helped us so much and it’s a pleasure to play with him. He’s more than the position that he plays. Being around him in the pitch, we know he can create something special.”
He added, “For me, he’s never an underrated player because I put him so high. He gives me the expectation that I know he can do. I know what I see, I know what he does and to be around him is special. He’s such a good guy. So I can never say he is underrated.”
The Old Trafford faithful will be hoping Cunha and Mbeumo’s friendship continues to grow and results in success for United. The pair have helped fire Carrick’s side into the top four heading into matchday 27 against Everton next Monday (February 23rd).
Manchester United bang on the money
Much was said about the amount of money spent on Cunha and Mbeumo when the attackers arrived at Old Trafford last summer. They had proven Premier League experience, but some felt Manchester United were paying over the odds, particularly for Mbeumo.
Their superb showings explain why the club were prepared to fork out a joint £132.5m on the attacking duo. It could be argued that they are the best business decisions INEOS has made since taking over the Reds’ sporting operations.
Mbeumo and Cunha will be eager to continue firing United towards a return to the Champions League. Carrick’s men sit fourth ahead of the trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, three points above sixth-placed Liverpool.
