Manchester United have been vindicated in their decision to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer. The Red Devils were looking for attacking reinforcements at the end of a disappointing 2024/25 campaign when they identified the Brazilian forward as an option for the job. The English giants made Cunha their first signing of the summer, before also securing the services of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens. The new signings played a starring role in United’s third-place finish in the Premier League. Cunha finished the campaign with 10 goals and four assists in 35 games across all competitions, dazzling fans with his footwork and some spectacular goals. 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. The Red Devils went through a transition phase last season, but with Michael Carrick appointed as the permanent manager, it is expected that Cunha will become even better. AC Milan and Brazil legend Kaka has now shed light on what he loves about his countryman. Kaka likes Cunha’s work ethic On Rio Ferdinand Presents, Kaka was asked what he liked about Cunha and he responded: “For me, it’s how he understands the game now. He’s working really hard tactically. Sometimes he does the work, the dirty work, to help the defenders and the defensive system. Also, he can use his creativity.” “He can bring his Brazilian style to improve and do something really different during the game. The way that he understands that he needs to work hard for the team, I think that’s it.” Cunha’s versatility also makes him an asset for United. Last season, the Brazilian operated on the left wing as well as in the centre-forward position, and he is also capable of filling the No. 10 role. Kaka remembers brace against United United locked horns with AC Milan in the semi-finals of the 2006/07 Champions League, where they secured a 3-2 win in the first leg at home. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring, but Kaka scored a quickfire brace to give his team the lead. Wayne Rooney restored parity after the break before scoring in the first minute of injury time to secure the win. Kaka insisted that his second goal from that game was the most beautiful one he had scored in his career. He said: “Man, for me, it was one of the best goals that I scored in my career. The second goal, yeah, the second goal was… That goal, for me, is the most beautiful goal that I scored in my career. Those two games were incredible. I scored two goals in the first game and we lost. It was amazing.” “We lost 3-2. I think Rooney scored in the last five minutes. It was an incredible game. Then we went to Milan and, for us in Italy, they call that game the perfect game.” United, however, lost the away leg 3-0, with Kaka also getting on the scoresheet, and exited the tournament. The Rossoneri went on to defeat Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League final. Final Thoughts United’s recruitment team deserve a pat on the back for securing the services of Cunha early in the transfer window. INEOS will have to be equally decisive in reinforcing their midfield this summer if they wish to continue their recent rise under Carrick. 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.
Cup winning former United assistant manager set for new role aiming to resurrect coaching career – report

Former Manchester United assistant manager Mitchell van der Gaag is about to make his latest career move. Time at United Mitchell van der Gaag enjoyed a playing career at teams such as PSV Eindhoven, Motherwell and FC Utrecht. He first became a manager in 2008 for Marítimo B and then took over the Portuguese team’s senior squad in 2009. After spells at Belenenses and Ermis, he returned to the Netherlands, where he worked for PSV Eindhoven, Excelsior, NAC and finally Jong Ajax. In June 2021, he was appointed as an assistant manager alongside Erik ten Hag at Ajax. He joined Manchester United as part of Erik ten Hag’s team in 2022 but departed his role in the summer of 2024 after a coaching shake-up. In May 2025, he was announced as the new manager of FC Zürich, but he only lasted five months and was sacked in October of last year. New role Portuguese newspaper O Jogo reports that, “Mitchell van der Gaag is close to being presented as Marítimo’s coach.” According to the paper, “the 54-year-old Dutchman is in advanced negotiations with the club’s management and has a contract until 2028 waiting for him.” The site also adds that, “unless there’s a change of heart, this would be the return of a club legend. Van der Gaag played for Marítimo between 2001 and 2006, even serving as captain, and it was with this club that he also began his coaching career in 2008/09, starting with the B team.” He was made responsible for the senior team the year after and incredibly secured European qualification. Marítimo won promotion from the second division in Portugal after winning the league last season. 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.
United’s classic encounter against historic rival named best match of PL season
Manchester United returned with a bang this past season after the disappointment of 2024/25. Recovery Their season particularly sparked into life in January after Michael Carrick was appointed as interim manager. The Englishman guided the side to third place and qualification for next season’s Champions League. He also oversaw some huge victories against rivals such as Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa. United were also much more impressive in front of goal. The Red Devils scored just 44 goals in the 2024/25 season but smashed in 69 this season just gone. In fact, only champions Arsenal and Manchester City actually scored more in the league. Match of the season Whilst United were involved in some cracking games and outstanding goals this season, nothing sums it up like the Red Devils’ 3-2 away win over Arsenal at the Emirates. The Premier League’s official website announced, “five-goal thriller at Emirates Stadium chosen by fans as top Premier League match of season.” The site continued, “Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United has been voted as the best match of the 2025/26 Premier League season. It received a whopping 50 per cent of votes from fans, beating Man Utd 4-4 AFC Bournemouth, Fulham 4-5 Manchester City, and nine other standout matches shortlisted.” The game was only Carrick’s second in charge but proved to be vital for setting the tone of his tenure at the club. United fell behind when Lisandro Martinez deflected in an own goal. Just before half-time, though, the away side equalised when Bryan Mbeumo capitalised on a mistake and beat David Raya. Patrick Dorgu scored an absolute stunner from range to put the visitors ahead. United were pegged back, though, in the final ten minutes when Mikel Merino scrambled in a classic Gunners’ corner kick. Finally, the Red Devils landed the final blow when Brazilian Matheus Cunha spectacularly curled in the winner to spark wild celebrations amongst the away supporters. Featured image Justin Setterfield 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 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.
Newcastle respond after United target “hands in a transfer request”, INEOS watching on with interest – report

Newcastle United have issued a rebuttal after news emerged of Lewis Hall having a falling out with manager Eddie Howe. The Sun claimed that the Englishman believed his exclusion from England’s World Cup squad was due to the Magpies boss. 🚨 The article has now been edited and no longer states ‘Lewis Hall wants to leave Newcastle’ but still says he would be open to joining Manchester United. https://t.co/jgjOdeauhW — UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) June 11, 2026 The pair’s row meant the left-back was considering leaving St. James’ Park in the summer with Manchester United ready to snap him up as they search for Luke Shaw’s successor. However, rather mischievously, The Sun reporter Samuel Luckhurst edited his original piece, removing any mention of the pair’s alleged spat. Mischievous from The Sun as usual ChronicleLive have since published their own version of the story, dismissing Luckhurst’s claims and revealing that the England international and Howe remain on good terms. “Newcastle United sources have strongly denied that there has been a bust-up between Eddie Howe and Lewis Hall. “ChronicleLive has been told that Hall has NOT handed in a transfer request and that the pair left for the summer on excellent terms despite fresh national reports. “Toon sources say that Howe’s relationship with the left-back is still “very good” and that there has been no argument behind the scenes.” All good between Lewis Hall and Eddie Howe Whether this means a move for the former Chelsea ace is now off the table remains to be seen. The 21-year-old is reportedly valued at north of £50 million. United were hoping that a transfer request would result in a cut-price sale, but that possibility is certainly no longer on the cards. INEOS have not found it easy to find a long-term replacement for Shaw, with Arsenal keen not to lose Myles Lewis-Skelly, while Bayern Munich have hijacked a deal for Nathaniel Brown. Should a move for Lewis Hall prove beyond the Red Devils, Michael Carrick could look to the club’s famed academy for a solution. United scrambling for cover Harry Amass, who impressed under Ruben Amorim and on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, is likely to be given a chance to stake his claim for a first-team spot in pre-season. Luke Shaw may have started all Premier League games last season, but his poor injury record means INEOS need to find a backup given the extra number of games next season owing to United’s Champions League return. Feature 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 Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
Video: Bruno Fernandes labels teammate’s side as surprise package of World Cup 2026
The World Cup got underway last night as Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0. The tournament will run until 19th July, when the final will be played in New Jersey. Numerous Manchester United players have been involved in international friendlies, and 12 have been called up to represent their nations at the prestigious tournament. The United squad were asked by the club’s official website to comment on who they thought the underdogs of the tournament would be. Underdogs Joshua Zirkzee opted for his teammate Noussair Mazraoui’s Morocco to impress as an underdog. Perhaps it would be harsh to refer to the North African team in this way, as they are AFCON champions and reached the World Cup semi-final in 2022. Portugal’s Diogo Dalot went for the Netherlands, and Senne Lammens picked his own nation, Belgium. He stated, “Belgium is a bit of an underdog so I’ll take us.” Portugal captain Bruno Fernandes then pleased numerous UK-based fans by labelling Scotland as the surprise package of the tournament. Carrington youth product Tyler Fletcher was recently called up to the senior squad to replace the injured Billy Gilmour. Manuel Ugarte was also asked, and he chose fellow South American team Ecuador as the side who could pull a few surprise punches. Fernandes’ opinion Fernandes was then asked to predict who would win the World Cup, and he somewhat unsurprisingly chose his own nation. When asked who he would like to face in the final, he claimed, “I don’t mind. I’d pick anyone if I get into the final, that’s another problem that I have to think after [about].” After having a moment to think more about the question, he replied, “Morocco. My friend Nous Mazraoui is there. We have something still inside us from the last World Cup. I want to beat him this time to get the better of him!” Who’s winning the #FIFAWorldCup? 👀🏆 pic.twitter.com/IbJQSaQTWj — Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 10, 2026 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 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.
Fabrizio Romano: After Elliot Anderson, United give up on yet another dream target, City ready to hijack again

Manchester United have already admitted defeat in their pursuit of dream midfield target, Elliot Anderson. The Nottingham Forest star was identified as the ideal successor to Casemiro, but INEOS are in no position to pay as much as Manchester City. Even though Forest have rejected both of City bids, the feeling is that the Englishman prefers a switch to the Etihad and the Red Devils do not want to get into a bidding war. This is why they moved on to Sandro Tonali. However, Newcastle’s valuation, the Italian’s wage demands, and his preference to return to his homeland have proved to be major obstacles. City eyeing Sandro Tonali Interestingly, Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that City, should they miss out on Anderson, could move for the Magpies ace. “I want to discuss the Man City situation, because on one side there is still the situation of Elliot Anderson,” Romano said on his YouTube channel. “Manchester City yesterday offered £121m add-ons included, for Elliot Anderson – £106m plus £15m as add-ons. The bid has been rejected by Nottingham Forest. “Now let’s see what Manchester City decide to do because it was already a big proposal. Don’t forget what I told you last week, another player really appreciated, really, really appreciated by Manchester City is also Sandro Tonali.” United cool their interest in Sandro Tonali The journalist had earlier claimed that owing to the former AC Milan star’s demands, the 20-time English league champions have cooled their interest. “In the case of Tonali, the appreciation remains, but at this stage the deal is not considered advanced or particularly concrete. The overall cost of the operation, including both salary and transfer fee, is currently viewed as too high. “As things stand today, Man Utd are relatively cold on the possibility of signing Tonali.” INEOS could rue both decisions INEOS are set to let go of two midfield targets. Whether this decision comes back to haunt them, only time will tell. Currently, United seem to be fully focussed on landing Mateus Fernandes from West Ham to add to their capture of Brazilian midfield ace Ederson. Feature image Carl Recine 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 Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
“Personality of a dead fish”: Roy Keane’s latest rant hits former United coach and current World Cup boss – report

With the World Cup having got underway, all 48 teams are busy fine-tuning their squads, adjusting tactics, and trying to acclimatise to the conditions. England finished their double-header of warm-up games with a comfortable 3-0 win against Costa Rica and will head into their first game against Croatia in good spirits, before facing Panama and Ghana in their final group fixtures. Ghana are currently managed by former Manchester United coach Carlos Queiroz in what will be his sixth World Cup tournament as a manager, after leading Iran in the last three, following stints in charge of South Africa in 2002 and Portugal in 2010. No love from former United captain However, despite his pedigree on the international stage, former United skipper Roy Keane could not muster up too much goodwill for his ex-coach, who worked with the Irishman at the back end of his time at Old Trafford. As reported by The Mirror, Keane was discussing the 73-year-old as part of ITV’s England coverage and gave a typically spiky assessment of the Portuguese coach, particularly in a managerial sense, before delivering a rather unnecessary personal jibe. “I just hope they don’t become too defensive. One of Carlos’s biggest strengths was his defensive side of the game. Brilliant coach, huge question marks over him as a manager. I felt like he had the personality of a dead fish when I worked with him,” he said. It is not the first time Keane has thrown strays at Queiroz, and there is clearly no love lost between the pair. Keane is set for a punditry role throughout the World Cup and, whilst his spiky comments are part of his appeal to many, his disdain for pretty much all things connected to United is getting a little bit over the top now. Bruno spat quashed The fiery former captain has recently been embroiled in another unnecessary public spat with United’s current skipper Bruno Fernandes, after he broke the Premier League assist record at the back end of last season. Keane has recently said the pair have spoken on the phone to put the issue to bed, but there is undoubtedly a running theme with his criticism toward his former employers. Queiroz will be hoping to prove Keane and any other doubters wrong by springing a surprise, with his side tasked with getting out of the group stage and heading into the knockout phase as a dark horse to cause an upset to some of the big hitters. No doubt there will be some more controversial one-liners from Keane throughout ITV’s broadcast of the tournament, with United players in particular braced for any stick likely to come their way. 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.
United now eyeing 6’3″ Bayern Munich beast, club representatives on alert during World Cup – report
Manchester United last signed first-team-ready central defenders in the summer of 2024, with Matthijs de Ligt being the most high-profile addition. De Ligt was signed from Bayern Munich in a deal worth an initial £38.6 million following the request of then manager Erik ten Hag, who was keen to reunite with his former Ajax star. The Dutchman quickly adapted to the Premier League’s physicality and intensity, cementing himself as United’s most solid defender in his maiden season. However, last season was a nightmare for him due to back injury issues. De Ligt missed the whole of the second half of the season and is yet to return to full fitness. Manchester United interested in Kim Min-jae Manchester United cannot risk going into a Champions League campaign with injury-prone defenders such as Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez. A report suggests the club’s recruitment team is keeping an eye on a centre-back who also happens to play for Bayern Munich. According to Philipp Kessler of tz, Manchester United’s representatives have been watching Kim Min-jae for some time and will continue to watch him at the World Cup. Kessler, however, underlines that nothing concrete has developed so far. The 6ft 3in South Korean is a physically imposing defender who is equally calm in possession. He is also an exceptional carrier of the ball. Kim was the bedrock of the Napoli side that ended a three-decade Serie A title drought in Naples. Juventus and several Turkish clubs are also keen on Kim, who is thought to be happy in Munich. However, he is not a guaranteed starter at the club. Kim will begin his World Cup campaign against Czechia following a mixed season with Bayern. A solid tournament might convince the likes of United to step up their efforts later in the summer. Bayern Munich willing to sign Marcus Rashford England left winger Marcus Rashford will also be under the spotlight in the United States. Barcelona remain reluctant to sign the United forward on a permanent basis. Meanwhile, Bayern are reportedly open to paying a considerable transfer fee for his services, but the Bundesliga giants do not want to meet his enormous wage demands. However, things could change dramatically for Rashford if he manages to show his class on the biggest stage with the Three Lions. 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!
National team boss waxes lyrical about “incredible” United ace for creating “historic memory” ahead of World Cup

Portugal national team boss Roberto Martinez has heaped praise on Bruno Fernandes, branding the Manchester United captain “incredible.” World Cup hopes Though United legend Cristiano Ronaldo remains the figurehead of the Portugal team, his waning strength and age have opened the door for others to rise and at present, they don’t come any bigger than Fernandes. Heading into the World Cup, Portugal are one of the favourites to go all the way and Fernandes will be crucial to their efforts. He endured a superb 2025/26 season with United, helping the club to a third-placed finish and Champions League football after a two-year absence. He contributed nine goals and a record-breaking 21 assists, making him the undisputed Premier League assist king. Fernandes earned both United’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year honours. He also claimed the Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year award, as well as the Premier League Player of the Season prize. He is seen as the most likely nominee to bag the PFA Player of the Year ahead of the likes of Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes and Erling Haaland. The creative lynchpin role Fernandes plays at United is set to be replicated with the national team, and manager Martinez is certainly not taking his midfielder’s attributes for granted. Martinez waxes lyrical about Fernandes The Selecao boss told The Athletic about Fernandes, “In the three years that I’ve been here in the national team, his consistency levels have been incredible.” “Everything that he does in the final third has been of the highest level.” “Now I’m delighted that he gets recognition, not just from the players, because that’s something that you can feel straight away in the PFA awards, but also from the writers and the Premier League in general.” The 52-year-old coach added, “Obviously, breaking that record over one season to get 21 assists, knocking (off) Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry, that’s creating a historic memory.” Fernandes and his countrymen kick off their World Cup quest on Wednesday, 17 June, when they face DR Congo. Featured image Carlos Rodrigues 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 Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!








