Brazilian says he was a midfielder but has had to adapt to the teams he has played for
Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha has said there is some “confusion” about his role on the pitch.
The Brazilian moved to Old Trafford from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer as part of a £200m+ upgrade of United’s frontline, after scoring 15 goals in the Premier League last season.
The 26-year-old revealed he has never been a traditional forward.
“I played my entire base as a midfielder, and when I became a professional, I encountered this world of 4-3-3,” said Cunha. “It seems like you have to adapt: either play centre-forward, winger, or ‘eight’.
“They eliminated the midfielder position, and you have to adapt. But I see it positively, as it has given me experience, many more positions, and even more so in short-term tournaments with the national team. Having a versatile player is a huge help for any coach.”
Cunha was signed by United due to his Premier League experience, his 15-goal tally in 2024-25, and his experience playing in a 3-4-3 with Wolves.
In a United shirt so far he has played on the left No 10 role, but also as the No 9, with two No 10s on either side of him. But these were only as a stand-in when main striker Benjamin Sesko was not ready to play.
“I think that because I play for Manchester [United] and people follow me more on the pitch, they [now] understand better how I play,” said Cunha.
The Brazilian said he doesn’t mind the confusion, though. It means people expect him to score more goals and he has embraced that.
“I think it’s part of having that weight, which is a privilege,” said Cunha. “It’s a weight that came after the Tokyo Olympics [for Brazil in 2021]. And if it means having that weight and becoming a champion, I think it’s worth putting up with a little bit of confusion about where [I] play.”
