Matheus Cunha on injury, rivalry with Cássio and Cruzeiro’s project

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·19 de fevereiro de 2026

Matheus Cunha on injury, rivalry with Cássio and Cruzeiro’s project

Goalkeeper Matheus Cunha was introduced this Thursday (19th) at Toca da Raposa. Hired to be the immediate successor to Cássio, the goalkeeper spoke openly about the competition for the position, the injury that delayed his debut, and the project that convinced him to wear Cruzeiro's jersey.

His arrival at the club, announced on the first day of the year, faced an obstacle right from the start. On January 5th, as he was preparing to debut in the season, Matheus suffered a meniscus injury in his right knee and had to undergo surgery. Since then, he went through the recovery period, completed the physical transition, and returned to training without restrictions.

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He made a point of highlighting the support he received during this process:

“To talk about my injury, I have to thank Cruzeiro's medical department. It's extraordinary what they have here. I can only thank them for all the support and care they provided. We are subject to injuries, it happened in a totally silly play, and right after, we feel sad, I talked to Pedrinho, with everyone, I was about to debut for the club. I had the best possible treatment and today I am pain-free and available to Tite to perform my football.”

His physical condition now restored allows him to immediately compete for space. The direct competition will be with Cássio, a reference in the position and an experienced name in the squad. Matheus treated the scenario as something natural in high-level clubs and reinforced his respect for his teammate.

“I worked with great goalkeepers. Cássio is a great goalkeeper, it's about working. I came to fight for my position, to keep working and evolving. Only Cruzeiro stands to gain. The club produces good goalkeepers, there are good young players on the way. It's about continuing to work and seeking the position with respect and dedication. Cássio and I are friends, he called me offering all support when I came here. It's about competing with respect. Everyone wants to play. Only Cruzeiro stands to gain.”

Besides the competition with Cássio for the starting position, the goalkeeper revealed that the proposal presented by the club was decisive for his choice, even in the face of other possibilities in the market. The sports project, according to him, was decisive:

“Cássio takes great care of himself, is very professional, and has everything to maintain his career. But yes, the project that Cruzeiro offered me (to be Cássio's replacement), I had offers from other clubs and that does weigh in. Cássio takes great care of himself, works hard, which is why he's at a high level at this age, but yes, the project that Cruzeiro showed me for the future. I will fight for my position regardless of the time, I am already fit to play and that is up to Tite's staff.”

The goalkeeper is now awaiting the opportunity to debut for Cruzeiro, which faces Pouso Alegre this Saturday (21st), at 6:30 PM (Brasília time), at Manduzão. The return match is scheduled for the next Saturday (28th), at the same time, at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.