HERE WE GO: Manchester United reach agreement to sign €50m Brazilian forward – Medical and announcement imminent
Manchester United are “close” to signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Matheus Cunh as their poor start to the season has forced them into the transfer market, according to talkSPORT.
The 23-year-old Brazilian was signed by Atletico last summer from Hertha Berlin and played under former United coach Ralf Rangnick at RB Leipzig. Cunha’s name may have come up when the German was in the job on an interim basis, and interest was sustained.
The report claims Atletico are adamant they will allow Cunha to leave for £42m, as the Brazilian scored six goals in 29 league games last season. Cunha is a versatile striker who can also play in midfield. He is certainly appreciated off the pitch by his girlfriend, who regularly attends games at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Mr Cunha is dating a Brazilian woman, Gabriela Nogueira, from Rio de Janeiro, who works as a lawyer. His girlfriend has followed him on all his football adventures and regularly posts pictures on social media looking at her partner when he is in the stands.
The #mufc board have been made aware that Matheus Cunha is willing to make a move to Old Trafford, despite joining Atletico last summer. [Simon Jones, @MailSport]
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) August 15, 2022
If Cunha joins United, his enjoyment of the game is likely to diminish, as Atletico started their La Liga season on Monday, while United are bottom of the Premier League. A brace from Alvaro Morata and a late goal from Antoine Griezmann gave Atletico a 3-0 win at Getafe.
Cunha was part of the team that got off to a perfect start, but it remains to be seen whether he will stay at Atletico. United are not as attractive a proposition as they once were, but it is expected that the tide will turn at some point.
It has been a nightmare start for Erik ten Hag, who lost his first two Premier League games in charge of United. The last time the Red Devils found themselves with zero points after their first two games of the season was in 1992.
They won the league that season, but even the most optimistic fans don’t expect that to happen. The Red Devils have yet to score a goal of their own, as the ball has only found the net with an Alexis Mac Allister own goal.
However, Cunha is emerging as the man who can turn things around, and soon the Brazilian and his girlfriend could be in Manchester. Atletico are in direct talks with Cunha, who would like to increase his chances of making the Brazil squad ahead of the World Cup.
