Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has agreed a free transfer to join Inter Miami after weeks of protracted negotiations, according to Fabrizio Romano. ‘One More Year’ Despite a resurgence in performance under Michael Carrick, INEOS mutually decided with Casemiro against triggering a one-year extension in his contract. But the 34-year-old Brazilian made as strong a case as possible for this decision to be reversed in the second half of the campaign, spearheading the successful pursuit of Champions League qualification. Alongside Kobbie Mainoo, brought back into the fold by Carrick, the pair formed the bedrock of United’s dramatic improvement under the interim boss – a far cry from the disjointed performances under Ruben Amorim earlier in the season. With the team restored to a more natural 4-2-3-1, Casemiro was given the platform to thrive, rather than be hindered by the impossible demands of the Portuguese tactician’s 3-4-2-1 system. However, it was not simply the defensive dominance the five-time Champions League winner has made his name for which was integral; rather, he showed a decisiveness in the final third which made him one of the most dangerous threats in the Premier League in the air. Five goals in the run-in from crosses into the box made United one of the most difficult sides to deal with from set-pieces, while his expansive forward passing – so often errant and misplaced under Amorim and Erik ten Hag – regained its accuracy. In short, there were few midfielders as consistent and effective as Casemiro in 2026, leading the Old Trafford faithful to sing ‘One More Year’ throughout every match of his superb swansong streak. Manchester to Miami Casemiro’s mind was made up, however, as was United’s hierarchy, who were keen to remove the club’s most expensive salary – worth as high as £350,000 a week once the Champions League bonus kicked in – from the wage bill. There was interest from Serie A, where the slower pace of Italian football would have suited ageing legs, and Saudi Arabia, but it was the ‘American Dream’ the Brazil international was intent on following. Miami shares a lot of cultural and geographical similarities with Brazil, making it an ideal early retirement home for a superstar footballer coming to the end of a glittering career. Inter Miami were always considered favourites to sign Casemiro once his contract in M16 expired, but rivals LA Galaxy retained ‘discovery rights’, giving them priority to agree a move. In order to supplant this, Inter Miami would be forced to pay a compensatory fee, believed to be as high as £750,000, which was holding things up as the Sao Paulo native had already agreed personal terms with the Herons. However, Romano now reveals this breakthrough has been made, giving the deal his trademark “Here We Go!” seal of approval. 🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Inter Miami complete deal to sign Casemiro as new midfielder, here we go! Verbal agreement sealed with all parties involved and all formal steps resolved, now waiting to sign and announce the Brazilian. Casemiro wants to play with Messi. Future in MLS. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/gHty3SWAIM — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 20, 2026 Tweet: “EXCLUSIVE: Inter Miami complete deal to sign Casemiro as new midfielder, here we go! Verbal agreement sealed with all parties involved and all formal steps resolved, now waiting to sign and announce the Brazilian. Casemiro wants to play with Messi. Future in MLS.” The chance to play with Lionel Messi is said to have been a major draw for the former Real Madrid star, which may raise the immaculately manicured eyebrows of a certain Portuguese forward he used to play with. Final ThoughtsFeatured image Stu Forster via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.
“Here we go!”: United star finally seals dream exit from Old Trafford – Fabrizio Romano
United close to hitting jackpot as Greenwood enters advanced talks to join CL club – report
Manchester United officially cut ties with Mason Greenwood in the summer of 2024, agreeing a deal to sell the forward to Olympique de Marseille after he was banished from Old Trafford due to his well-documented personal issues. Since then, the Englishman has performed well in France and was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season last term after a prolific campaign helped his side qualify for the Europa League. Greenwood’s on-field efforts have earned him interest from multiple high-profile clubs across Europe, and he looks set to leave Marseille this summer. Italy bound There were rumours of a move back to England, but given the nature of why he left United, it would take a brave club to take a punt on a player whose off-the-pitch reputation is in tatters. However, Italian giants Roma look to be willing to take on the controversial attacker, with Corriere dello Sport reporting talks over a deal are at an “advanced stage”. The outlet claims that Mason Greenwood has “already expressed his willingness” to move to the Italian capital and is just waiting on the clubs to reach an agreement to sanction his sale. Roma are reportedly hoping to negotiate the €55 million asking price, with Marseille demanding €50 million of that up front, with the additional €5 million dependent on objectives at his new club. Good news for United INEOS will be keeping a close eye on any potential deal, with the clause in Greenwood’s transfer to Marseille stipulating United are owed around 40 per cent of his transfer fee when he leaves the French club. Therefore, the higher the price Marseille can drive, the better for United, who could be set to bag a cool €20 million should Roma agree to the asking price. Corriere dello Sport do add that Roma are desperate to “lower the fixed €50 million and increase the bonus amount” but are hoping find a solution that will suit all parties in the coming days and result in a handy windfall for United. Back in Manchester, INEOS are working hard on getting deals over the line, with additions to the midfield a clear priority for the club in the market. Brazilian workhorse Ederson is all but confirmed as the first signing of the summer, but supporters will be demanding a marquee name or two before the start of the new campaign to give Michael Carrick the best chance of starting the season strong. Any funds from the Greenwood deal would certainly be welcomed at Old Trafford, with the club operating under a tighter budget than they would like, largely due to the mismanagement of transfer dealings over the last decade that has seen them spend good money after bad for far too long. Feature image Miguel Medina via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Conner Botterill Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for three years. A lifelong red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology through the Open University. His favourite match attended was the unforgettable night in Paris in 2019 under the guidance of one of his idols, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
Risk of a civil war: Current and ex-United stars pitted against each other in nasty national team turmoil
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes arrived at the World Cup hoping to inspire his team to glory, but Portugal are plagued by off-field issues that threaten to ruin their tournament. It all started after the 1-1 draw against Congo in the opening group stage game earlier this week. Red Devils legend Cristiano Ronaldo came under criticism for failing to have an impact, with Thierry Henry even accusing him of being selfish and robbing Fernandes of the winner. However, things went from bad to worse when the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s team-mates were accused of sabotaging Ronaldo. Fans flooded the social media posts of Portuguese players, including Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha and Joao Pedro, with negative comments and criticism. Neves, who scored against Congo, came under fire for his post-match comments, in which he insisted Ronaldo is no different to other players in the squad. He said: “We know what Cristiano has done for us, for our national team, and for the world of football. But at this moment, he and we know that he is no different. He is just another player here to help. He is no different from the others. He is here to contribute, just like all of us.” Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro also added fuel to the fire with her social media activity, further complicating the entire situation. Portuguese journalist Vitor Pinto has now provided a concerning update from the Portugal camp. Portugal team in danger of civil war Speaking recently, as cited by The Daily Mail, Portuguese journalist Vitor Pinto said that the situation within the national team camp could escalate into a full-blown civil war. He said: “It demonstrates the risk of a civil war within the national team.” “There is a reaction to any criticism levelled at Cristiano Ronaldo, and that is where much of the polarisation comes from. I do not believe there was any boycott against Cristiano Ronaldo – let’s make that clear from the start.” “I repeat, there was no organised boycott against Cristiano Ronaldo within the national team. However, it is true that Portugal did not communicate effectively with their centre-forward, nor did they employ a strategy in which the striker created space for others to break through the defence and finish.” The entire saga now threatens to drown the initial optimism surrounding Portugal, who boast some of the best players in the world, including Fernandes. The United skipper is coming off a record-breaking campaign that saw him win the Premier League Player of the Season and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards. Unfortunately, even the Portuguese Magnifico failed to make an impact against Congo. Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League35359215-3,068′ FA Cup11-1–90′ EFL Cup10—-45′ Total37369225-3,203′ Source: Transfermarkt. Roberto Martinez urged to take a stance on ex-United forward While the debate continues on social media, Ronaldo remains under scrutiny for his lacklustre performance. The 41 year old registered three shots, none of which were on target, yet played the entire game. That decision was heavily criticised by former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, who labelled Portugal manager Roberto Martinez as an embarrassment. Speaking on BBC 5 Live’s coverage of the game, Sutton said: “That’s embarrassing from Roberto Martinez. Are we all watching a different game? The game is passing Ronaldo by. Martinez is scared. He’s not the manager.” Portugal face Uzbekistan on Tuesday, 23 June, in their next group stage tie. The Selecao have to win the game to ensure they remain in contention for a place in the knockout stages. Final Thoughts The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be Ronaldo’s swansong, but things have hardly gone according to plan so far. If Portugal are to stamp their authority in the tournament, perhaps it is time to rally around Fernandes and allow the United maestro to work his magic. Featured image Yasser Bakhsh via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
“Incredible” attacker set to leave his club with United pushing to strike agreement – Fabrizio Romano
Manchester United are hoping to sign both Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville from West Ham United. West Ham’s relegation to the Championship has led to suggestions of a mass exodus in east London, as the Hammers may be forced to raise funds through major sales to avoid breaching financial rules. Furthermore, their best players are unlikely to look forward to playing in England’s second tier, especially amid interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Manchester United admire Crysencio Summerville Manchester United have been chasing Mateus Fernandes for some time now and were expected to make a move for him, irrespective of West Ham’s fate in the Premier League. However, following West Ham’s drop, Crysencio Summerville has also emerged as a serious target for the Red Devils, who are keen to add a versatile attacker to their ranks. Recently, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming United made an enquiry for the electric winger after he “scored high in data analysis”. The 5ft 9in winger, who can hug the touchline or drift into the centre comfortably, possesses explosive pace and exceptional dribbling ability. Described as “incredible” by teammate Jean-Clair Todibo, the Dutchman does not shy away from his defensive responsibilities either. Crysencio Summerville set to leave West Ham As is the case with Fernandes, West Ham have slapped a high price-tag on Summerville. The Championship outfit are demanding around £50m for the versatile winger. However, his exit appears to be more certain than that of the Portuguese midfielder, despite a long-term contract in London. According to Fabrizio Romano, Summerville is “set to leave” West Ham with “several clubs calling.” 🚨 Crysencio Summerville also set to leave West Ham with several clubs calling. Manchester United are informed on price and added his name on shortlist, more PL club also keen — PSG interest depends on Barcola/Diomande. 🎥 https://t.co/FHEJIePCAC pic.twitter.com/xmc92yrRXu — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 20, 2026 The Italian journalist claims United are “informed on price and added his name on shortlist”. There are other Premier League clubs in the race for Summerville’s signature as well. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain’s interest depends on the futures of Bradley Barcola and Yan Diomande. On his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that United “keep asking” West Ham about Summerville, suggesting the Mancunians are pushing to sign the Netherlands international. Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!
“Imperious”: United star runs the show at the World Cup to leave local media in awe
Most Manchester United fans were eager to watch Morocco take on Scotland on Friday night. Last time Morocco played, many failed to tune in as the game was late, and some felt that South American powerhouse Brazil would give them a footballing lesson. Noussair Mazraoui a hit at the World Cup But the African footballing powerhouses stepped up. United’s Noussair Mazraoui produced a “complete performance,” helping his teammates turn the game into a 50-50 battle that, of course, ended 1-1. Mazraoui’s left-back masterclass in that World Cup opener left many in awe, with United fans all saying the same thing: “This is the Mazraoui we want next season.” So, against Scotland on Friday night, it was a fantastic opportunity to watch Mazraoui impress once more for Morocco. And as if he knew we were watching, the Red Devil delivered another top performance, which was well dissected by The Peoples Person. Moroccan press reacts His brilliance certainly had many singing his praises, with Sport.le360 leading the plaudits. The Moroccan media said of Mazraoui’s performance in their 1-0 win over Tyler Fletcher and Scott McTominay’s Scotland: “Imperious in his defensive interventions and remarkable for his game intelligence, he perfectly controlled the majority of his one-on-one duels. Always well-positioned, accurate in his choices, and valuable on the ball, the Moroccan full-back was able to anticipate situations and make the right decisions, even under pressure. “Solid defensively, he also contributed to the build-up play thanks to his technical quality and composure. From start to finish, he gave the impression of controlling every detail on his flank, both defensively and offensively.” Injuries hold back Mazraoui What a tournament Mazraoui is having. Yet that is hardly surprising; his quality has never been in question. He is a top-class footballer and a manager’s dream, given his ability to play anywhere across the pitch. His problem, however, has been injuries, which have denied United fans the chance to appreciate the player he truly is. That said, hand him an injury-free season, the kind Luke Shaw enjoyed last season, and you can expect Player of the Season performances from the Moroccan next season. Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.
Mateus Fernandes: United take significant step forward in race to sign extraordinary talent – Fabrizio Romano
Manchester United find themselves in a state of panic amid their pursuit of priority midfield targets. United headed into the summer with the intention of signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, having identified the England star as Casemiro’s ideal replacement. With Forest now demanding a British record transfer package and Manchester City reportedly willing to meet their demands, United have withdrawn from the race for Anderson. Manchester United face competition from Tottenham for Mateus Fernandes Earlier this month, The Athletic claimed Manchester United are refusing to enter a bidding war for Elliot Anderson and are instead focusing on signing West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes. Fernandes is thought to be “very keen” on moving to Old Trafford, and United’s recruitment team have already opened talks with his agent, Jorge Mendes, and West Ham to find an agreement over a transfer fee. The Hammers remain firm on their £85 million valuation of the 21-year-old midfield dynamo. One might think United are in a strong position to compel West Ham to lower their demands following the east London outfit’s relegation to the Championship. However, Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to enter the race may force the Red Devils’ hands. Manchester United pushing to sign Mateus Fernandes On Saturday morning, Fabrizio Romano reported that Tottenham called Fernandes’ agent to try and “enter the deal”. However, on his YouTube channel, the Italian journalist underlined that United are “pushing in talks” with the super agent and West Ham to find a solution for the Portuguese midfielder. Real Madrid have also considered Fernandes as a potential signing “but from England, the clubs are way more aggressive financially”. The development suggests United remain keen to sign the West Ham star despite their initial reluctance to get involved in a bidding war for a player this summer. Furthermore, Romano adds that Jason Wilcox and company also “keep asking” West Ham about their winger Crysencio Summerville, who interestingly, is also being chased by Spurs. Featured image Clive Rose via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!
United Legends latest opponent announced for August showdown
Manchester United legends will be back in action this August. Historic fixtures A group of former Manchester United players often play together under the banner of the Legends team to raise money for various charities. The most recent game took place against Southampton at the end of March. United ran out 5-3 winners with players such as Louis Saha and Antonio Valencia taking the stage. One of the most famous legends matches occurred in 2019 when Manchester United beat Bayern Munich 5-0 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Treble victory. The event saw the return of numerous fan favourites such as David Beckham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The year 2017 also saw an entertaining 2-2 draw with FC Barcelona at Old Trafford. Newest opponent Scunthorpe United’s in-house media has announced that they will be the next opponent to take on a United legends’ side this summer. The site reports, “Scunthorpe United Football Club is delighted to announce the return of Iron Aid, with a Scunthorpe United Legends side set to take on a Manchester United Legends XI in a special pre-season fixture at the Attis Arena on Sunday, August 2nd (4pm kick-off) as part of a wider event with more details to be released in due course.” They explain that the event will “bring together some of the most iconic names from both clubs’ histories for a memorable afternoon of football, nostalgia and fundraising.” The club elaborated further on the reasons behind the match, stating, “the match marks the return of the popular Iron Aid concept, which in 2024, as part of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations, raised significant funds for local charities and community causes, whilst creating unforgettable occasions for supporters of all ages.” Which Scunthorpe and Manchester United players will be taking part in the match will be announced in due course. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Latest Top Stories… Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
Reason provided for United’s unusual start to the Premier League season – report
Manchester United have discovered when they will face their Premier League rivals next season. Start United will travel to newly promoted Hull City on 22nd August. They will kick off their home campaign against another newly promoted side, Ipswich Town, on 29th August. The next three fixtures will see United take on Everton, Manchester City, and Fulham. United’s final three league matches of the season will see them play Leeds United at home and travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They will finish the 2026/2027 season by welcoming Fulham to Old Trafford. Request The Sun newspaper reports that United made a request to the Premier League to play their first match of the season away from Old Trafford. The paper states that, “Manchester United requested to play their first Premier League fixture next season away from Old Trafford due to extensive work on the Old Trafford pitch.” The Red Devils have not started a new season away since facing Bournemouth in 2016, which was Jose Mourinho’s first league match in charge of the club. United welcomed eventual champions Arsenal to Old Trafford last season to kick off the 2025/2026 campaign. The paper adds that, “ground staff have dug up the Old Trafford pitch for the first time since 2012 and will also install new safety measures.” This means United now have around 10 weeks to get the pitch in tip-top state before they welcome the Tractor Boys to Old Trafford on 29th August. United have faced criticism in the past for the elevated nature of their pitch and the brickwork in front of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. It is thought that Benjamin Sesko’s injury against Liverpool at the start of last month was aggravated by tumbling off the steeper pitch. United’s opening PL fixtures SeasonOpponentScoreVenue 2025-2026Arsenal0-1Old Trafford 2024-2025Fulham1-0Old Trafford 2023-2024Wolves1-0Old Trafford 2022-2023Brighton1-2Old Trafford 2021-2022Leeds5-1Old Trafford 2020-2021Crystal Palace1-3Old Trafford 2019-2020Chelsea4-0Old Trafford 2018-2019Leicester2-1Old Trafford 2017-2018West Ham4-0Old Trafford 2016-2017Bournemouth3-1Vitality Stadium Featured image by Alex Livesey/Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
“Great for my development”: PL winner with United credits club for recent coaching success
Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones is about to embark on a new coaching journey. United career Jones started his career with Blackburn Rovers but moved to Old Trafford in 2011. He won the league title in 2013 and impressed Sir Alex Ferguson enough that the legendary manager claimed Jones had the potential to be the club’s best ever player. Sadly, injuries took their toll, and Jones never looked anything like fulfilling his excellent potential. All in all, he played 229 times for United, scoring six goals in total. The defender finally retired in 2023 after barely kicking a ball in anger during his final four seasons at the club. Coaching career After retiring, he joined United’s under-14 and under-18 coaching teams and got a senior chance with Blackburn Rovers in February. He left that position this month and joined Sheffield United earlier this week. Learning Jones has given an interview to Sheffield United’s website discussing his coaching roles to date. Commenting on the opportunity to join such a historic club, he explained, “I think it’s a club that’s got rich history. I’ve played against them a lot of times over the years. I know exactly what they’re about, what the fans expect, and speaking to Chris (Wilder) and the staff, it was a project that I was really excited about.” Elaborating further on his new role, he explained, “I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve had some good conversations with him (Wilder) on how he sees the team and how he wants to play. The project’s there. I’m excited about it.” Reflecting on his previous experience, he claimed, “I think when I finished, it (coaching) was always something at the forefront of my mind, what I wanted to do, stay in the game. I spent a couple of years in the academy at Man United, which was great for my learning, my development. I got the call from Michael (O’Neill) to go in at Blackburn to the end of last season, which was really good. I really enjoyed it.” Phil Jones career stats ClubAppearancesGoalsYears Active Blackburn Rovers4002009-2011 Man United22962011-2023 The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
2 goals, 4 duels won: United star spearheaded his nations thrilling World Cup victory
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha inspired Brazil to a commanding 3-0 World Cup win over Haiti on Friday, 19 June, at the Philadelphia Stadium. Carlo Ancelotti’s team arrived at the fixture desperate for a win after drawing their opening game against Morocco. Cunha had started that tie from the bench, before coming on for his World Cup debut in the second half. While he failed to muster a goal contribution, the 27 year old was praised for his performances by the country’s media. Cunha is coming off an impressive campaign with United, finishing with 10 goals and four assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. He ended the season as one of Michael Carrick’s most important men, helping the Red Devils secure third place in the Premier League table. Matheus Cunha stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League33291044-2,503′ FA Cup11—-90′ EFL Cup11—-90′ Total35311044-2,683′ Source: Transfermarkt. Cunha’s ability to carry out various roles in the final third also made him an attractive proposition for Ancelotti. The Italian manager handed the player his first World Cup start on Friday, and he did not disappoint. Brazil blow away Haiti Brazil made two changes to the team that shared points with Morocco, with Danilo coming into the back line in place of Roger Ibanez and Cunha replacing Igor Thiago in attack. The Selecao took the lead in the 23rd minute through the United star, who reacted quickly after Johny Placide parried Vinicius Junior’s shot into his path. Replays confirmed that the goal was a bit fortuitous, as Markhus Lacroix’s attempted clearance had ricocheted off Cunha. The Brazilian, though, gave fans a reminder of his abilities before the end of the break. Latching on to Vinicius’ through ball, Cunha unleashed an exquisite finish into the roof of the net to double the score and asserted the Selecao’s dominance in the tie. The Real Madrid forward, meanwhile, applied the finishing touches at the stroke of half-time to take the game away from the Caribbean nation. Ederson, who has reportedly agreed to join United this summer, did come on for his World Cup debut in the 81st minute, replacing Bruno Guimaraes. The 25 year old completed all three of his attempted passes and even squandered a big chance. Brazil ended the game with nine shots, five of which were on target, and 57% possession. While Vinicius was adjudged the man of the match, Cunha justified his selection ahead of Igor Thiago with a masterclass. Cunha’s form will please United Cunha started the game as a focal point of attack and showed signs of a budding relationship with Vinicius Junior that will please Ancelotti. The United star managed 41 touches of the ball, and registered 29 passes with 86% passing accuracy. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward’s only attempted cross did not reach its intended target. Cunha also lost the ball nine times, but he refused to give up an inch on the pitch without a fight. The Brazilian won four of his five duels and was also fouled once. He registered one interception and two tackles as well. Cunha, however, failed to register any dribbles, but scored two vital goals to power his team to the top of Group C. Matheus Cunha Stats vs Haiti: 2026 World Cup MetricMatheus Cunha NationBrazil PositionF Touches41 Accurate Passes25/29 (86%) Key Passes0 Crosses (Accurate)1 (0) Long Balls (Accurate)- Shots on Target2 Expected Goals (xG)0.73 Shots off Target0 Shots Blocked0 Dribbles (Successful)0 (0) Duels (Won)5 (4) Ground Duels (Won)4 (3) Aerial Duels (Won)1 (1) Possession Lost9 Fouls1 Was Fouled- Offsides1 Defensive Actions3 Clearances0 Blocked Shots (Defensive)0 Interceptions1 Tackles (Won)2 Dribbled Past0 Source: Sofascore. Final Thoughts Cunha has already displayed his versatility since arriving at Old Trafford, regularly operating through the middle under former head coach Ruben Amorim, as well as his successor Carrick. United fans will now hope that the Brazilian can build on his World Cup performances, return unscathed and propel the team back to their glory days next season. Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
