Despite having a relatively slow start to life at Old Trafford, it’s safe to say that Matheus Cunha has well and truly arrived as a Manchester United player in recent months.
The Brazilian, said by United insiders to be the club’s next Eric Cantona, scored just one goal in the Premier League between August and November, far ahead of fellow summer signing Brian Mbeumo.
But since the start of December, the 26-year-old has scored six goals and provided three assists, making him particularly impressive on the left wing under Michael Carrick.
Initially used as a No. 10 on the left in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, Cunha’s long-term home is likely to take on a wider role in the future, and the INEOS government needs to get it right when it comes to signing the perfect player to complement him.
Man United begin negotiations to sign La Liga sensation
Since Patrick Dorg was injured against Arsenal in January, Cunha has been preferred primarily as a left-sided player, although he is not necessarily a orthodox winger, given that he was lined up as a number 10 or centre-forward during his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
One potential problem with Carrick’s approach is that Cunha, despite his quality, lacks width. The former Molineux star has a tendency to cut inside and even drifted to the right in his powerful finish against Fulham.
That problem is compounded by the presence of Luke Shaw behind him, with the ever-present left-back no longer the predatory, forward-thinking defender he once was.
With that in mind, signing a new left-back appears to be a priority for the summer, especially with Tyrell Malasia set to leave at the end of his contract and Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reporting that United are in the race to sign Barcelona sensation Alejandro Balde.
The Red Devils are thought to be in a battle with Aston Villa and Manchester City over the 22-year-old’s contract, with the Premier League trio starting talks over a potential summer move, according to a report from Sport Witness.
Most rated left back | |
|---|---|
player | value |
Mendez | £64 million |
racing | £51m |
bucket | £46 million |
o’reilly | £42 million |
Calafioli | £42 million |
cucurella | £42 million |
dimarco | £42 million |
via Transfermarkt | |
However, these approaches have not yet resulted in any concrete offers, although the article outlines that the La Liga giants are keen to keep the Spaniard but could consider a sale if they receive a “significant” bid.
Why Balde would dream of signing Cunha at Manchester United
If Cunha wants to truly thrive on the left, he will need support from a flying full-back in the same way Marcus Rashford was alongside Shaw during his brilliant spell at Old Trafford.
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However, in his current spell, Shaw has tended to keep things simple in attack, operating in a similar manner to the left-sided centre-back role he enjoyed under Amorim.
For example, in the last game against Bournemouth, the 30-year-old recorded just two progressive carries, made just 10 passes into the opposition half, and rarely saw him break the guts to get around Cunha on the left.
That has been the theme of the Englishman’s season, in fact he has registered just one assist, created just 0.51 chances per game and averaged just 0.21 completed dribbles in the Premier League.
Therefore, with the Barcelona speedster providing two assists in La Liga and averaging 1.24 chances created and 1.18 successful dribbles per game, Balde would represent the perfect youthful upgrade.
That willingness to push forward at every available opportunity is reflected in the youngster’s 2.37 touches per out in opposition territory, with Shaw’s record looking particularly poor in this regard at just 0.75.
This is partly due to his long stint at United having started the season as part of a back three, but the point remains that even his undeniable reliability in 2025/26 cannot mask his declining physical ability.
Meanwhile, regarding Balde, Como scout Ben Mattinson says INEOS are targeting a player who is on the rise and is perhaps one of the “best players in the world” alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes, who has provided 21 assists in 160 games for the Catalan side so far.
For comparison, Shaw made 318 appearances for United, registering just 30 assists in all competitions, highlighting why a change of guard is needed.
Cunha also had a fruitful partnership with Rayan Ayet-Nouri previously at Wolves and will no doubt benefit from having an attacking-minded presence at the back. These two were devastatingly effective on the left flank.
If the £62.5m man calls the side home for next season at Old Trafford, he could do even more in a United shirt with a player like Balde in support and providing relentless overlapping runs.
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There has been progress in the pursuit of the Red Devils.
