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Manchester United Take the Direct Route with Matheus Cunha Signing

Simplicity Over Sensation in Smart Summer Move

There is an almost nostalgic clarity to Manchester United’s first move of the summer. In triggering Matheus Cunha’s £62.5 million release clause at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the club have returned to a transfer model that Ed Woodward always admired. A transaction without twists or gamesmanship. A deal where all sides know exactly what is required.

As ESPN’s original report highlighted, Woodward “made no secret of his view that a transfer target with a release clause in their contract made life an awful lot easier.” It was that belief which once made Antoine Griezmann such an appealing proposition in 2017. The former executive vice-chairman saw release clauses as beacons of transparency in a murky market — a rare opportunity to pay, play, and progress.

Though the Griezmann move was ultimately shelved due to José Mourinho’s squad-building choices, the logic remains sound and timely today.

Photo: IMAGO

Cunha’s Fit for Amorim’s United

Cunha is an intriguing first addition for new manager Rúben Amorim. Not only does the Brazilian bring Premier League pedigree, he also fits the tactical blueprint. Amorim’s favoured 3-4-3 formation mirrors the system that brought out the best in Cunha at Wolves, where he thrived as an inside forward.

“It’s easy to see why United manager Ruben Amorim wants Cunha,” ESPN rightly observe. “The Brazilian excelled as an inside forward in Wolves’ 3-4-3 system — the same system also used by Amorim — and he has experience scoring goals in the Premier League. He got 15 last season and 12 the year before.”

For a club that has struggled to recruit effectively in recent seasons, there is intelligence and coherence in this move. Cunha is not a gamble on potential but a performer with proven output in the English game.

Release Clause Avoids the ‘United Tax’

What makes this deal stand out even more in the current landscape is its clean execution. United’s senior figures — CEO Omar Berrada and director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves — had only one point of discussion with Wolves: the payment structure.

“The release clause in the player’s contract at Molineux meant there was no negotiation over the fee, and the only talks with Wolves focused on the spread of payments.”

Even that proved mildly contentious. United offered to pay over five years, then four, but Wolves insisted on two. A compromise was reached, and the deal was confirmed on June 1, aligning neatly with FIFA’s pre-Club World Cup window. In ESPN’s words, “evidence of its relative simplicity.”

For a club often burdened by what Woodward called the “United tax” — inflated fees simply for being Manchester United — this was a moment of rare efficiency.

From Rash Spending to Rigid Discipline

The Cunha move comes after a stark period of self-reflection at Old Trafford. Following a spree that saw more than £150 million spent on Casemiro and Antony in just one week in 2022, there is a renewed emphasis on financial discipline. That summer remains a cautionary tale inside the club.

“There’s still some faith that [Rasmus] Højlund will turn into the prolific front-line striker they hoped they were getting,” ESPN report. But the reality is hard to ignore. Højlund’s £70 million price tag has so far yielded just 14 Premier League goals in two seasons.

It is precisely this track record of overspending — combined with the lack of European football next season — that has led Berrada and his team to draw a firmer line in the sand.

“Any spending will have to be ‘disciplined’,” ESPN quote United sources as saying. “And it’s not being ruled out that Berrada, Hargreaves and technical director Jason Wilcox could abandon their pursuits of top targets if valuations are deemed to be too high.”

This was already evidenced last summer, when United walked away from a move for Jarrad Branthwaite over valuation concerns. It is no coincidence that this was Berrada’s first window. He arrived from Manchester City, where walking away from inflated deals was standard policy.

Strategic Summer Moves Take Priority

Cunha is just the start. United have shown interest in Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, but will not exceed a pre-set valuation. Should that prove problematic, alternatives include Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.

This strategy, focused on financial control, is not only a consequence of United’s absence from Europe, but also a result of internal efforts to create “headroom” for spending. ESPN report this has come from wage bill reductions and the redundancy programme led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

As ESPN neatly summarised, “Berrada and his team are looking to eliminate mistakes from the past to build a squad capable of moving the club in the right direction, all while walking a financial tightrope.”

In many ways, the Cunha deal is the antithesis of the reactive, bloated moves of previous years. It’s not flashy, but it is functional. It offers tactical compatibility, financial clarity and Premier League reliability — and that’s precisely the kind of foundation United need as they try to rebuild under Amorim.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For a fanbase that has been battered by transfer blunders and inflated hype, this feels like a smart, grown-up move by Manchester United. Matheus Cunha isn’t a blockbuster name like Mbappé or Osimhen, but he’s the sort of player we’ve been crying out for — technically gifted, tactically suited and already proven in the Premier League.

Cunha’s performances for Wolves were a bright spot last season. He didn’t just score goals, he played with energy and purpose — something we’ve lacked in the final third for far too long. The fact that this deal got done without three weeks of drama, agent leaks and inflated fees? Honestly, it’s refreshing.

It also shows the new regime is doing things differently. If this is what Berrada and Amorim are building — a team based on balance and football intelligence — then we’re all for it.

Yes, the real test will be consistency and bigger fixtures, but as first signings go, Cunha ticks the boxes. He won’t transform United overnight, but he might just be part of a group that finally restores our footballing identity. The red shirt has weighed heavy recently — Cunha seems like he’s ready to wear it with purpose.