New Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha is aiming to replicate the impactful presence of club legend Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian forward, signed for £62.5 million, stated that he has long admired the Manchester United squad that triumphed in the 2008 Champions League final.
It was during this era that United solidified their place as Cunha`s favorite club.
He would tune in weekly to watch their matches at his grandmother`s house, then go outside to recreate the action on makeshift pitches he called `Old Trafford`.
Among the many stars in Sir Alex Ferguson`s formidable team back then, it was the former England captain, Wayne Rooney, who particularly impressed the young Brazilian.
Cunha, aged 26, identified traits in Rooney, United`s record scorer with 253 goals, that resonate with his own playing style and which he hopes to bring to the current team.
The striker, who previously played for Wolves and Atletico Madrid, commented, “I remember the entire squad from when I first started watching. I was really drawn to Rooney upfront. His game had many elements I see in my own approach, especially giving my absolute all. He wore the number 10, and while people admired his skill, he offered so much more. His willingness to slide tackle and win the ball – that kind of inherent energy – was a huge inspiration.”
Despite it being 17 years ago, Cunha can still recall most of the players involved in United`s penalty shootout victory over Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, which ended 1-1 after extra time.
He added, “Naturally, I can name many of the players. Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, everyone knows him, easy to talk about. But also Ryan Giggs. I can picture that team clearly – starting with Edwin van der Sar in goal, Rio Ferdinand alongside Nemanja Vidic in defence, Paul Scholes – wow – and Michael Carrick. That particular team significantly influenced my teenage years.”
Cunha`s impressive performances and 17 goals for Wolves last season established him as a sought-after player in the Premier League this summer.
For some players, joining United might seem less appealing after the challenging season they`ve just experienced.
The club finished a disappointing 15th place with only 42 points, their lowest tally in Premier League history, meaning they won`t compete in Europe next season.
However, for Cunha, who supported the club since childhood in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, the opportunity to wear the iconic red shirt at the actual Old Trafford (“Theatre of Dreams”) was simply too good to refuse.
Cunha stated, “Perhaps people outside might not fully grasp my decision. But when playing here has always been your dream, making this choice becomes straightforward.”
“It`s difficult to articulate, but for me, no other club compares to United.”
“I`m aware it`s been a tough season for everyone. My decision reflects what this club signifies to me and my belief in its potential future.”
He recalled how he initially developed his passion for the Red Devils, explaining, “Neither my house nor my cousin`s house had the channel broadcasting the Premier League.”
“My cousin, who is older and supports United, introduced me to watching the Premier League and convinced me to support United. We could only watch the games at my grandmother`s house, so we made arrangements to go there every weekend.”
“When we played football together in the street, on the beach, or on gravel pitches, we would refer to those places as `Old Trafford`.”
“So, wow, it`s quite overwhelming to be here now reflecting on the past – it`s a very emotional experience for me.”
“It might be a common phrase in this situation, but yes, it truly is a dream come true for me.”
“This is my dream team, the club I wanted to join.”
In 2017, Cunha had a glimpse of his dream potentially becoming reality when he played against Manchester United`s youth team for Coritiba in the Dallas Cup tournament.
He mentioned, “A director at Coritiba informed me that a United director had inquired about me.”
“I was incredibly excited, picturing my dream move to United, but unfortunately, the discussions didn`t progress further.”
“However, I see that as the beginning of my journey. Playing against United was a dream in itself. Wow!”
Eight years later, his ambition has finally been realized, and Cunha feels this is the ideal moment in his career for the move.
He also credits manager Ruben Amorim as a factor in his decision, admitting the coach helped persuade him to join.
Cunha stated, “I have great confidence in him. I hope he achieves global success, similar to his achievements in Portugal.”
“I am here to support both the team and the manager. Our conversations certainly made my decision-making process simpler.”
While his 2.5 seasons at Wolves (initially a five-month loan from January 2023) had some challenging moments, he now feels a sense of calm having achieved his long-held ambition.
He added, “This feels like the perfect moment to join, and I need to approach it calmly now. I`ve learned from past errors.”
“Every player who comes here inevitably thinks about the club`s glorious history, all those Premier League titles.”
“My goal is to help restore this club to the top and contribute in every way possible to achieve those successes again.”
Marcus Bellamy