Troy Deeney believes Matheus Cunha has elevated Manchester United’s play to a different level this season.
It’s certainly a sentiment that’ll be echoed by fans, too, as the forward has become an instant hit with the Old Trafford faithful since the term got underway.
Cunha was United’s most straightforward deal of the summer, as he had a £62.5 million release clause included in his contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The club paid a lump sum upfront before pledging the additional payments in instalments, after which he put pen to paper on a five-year deal in M16.
How Cunha has fared as a Red thus far
The 26-year-old is still awaiting his first goal contribution in red, but supporters are far from concerned over that, given his instant impact on the pitch.
On Sunday, he was restored to the starting XI in place of Benjamin Sesko for the trip to Anfield. It was deemed a slightly controversial decision by Ruben Amorim, as Sesko had scored in back-to-back games in the build-up to the clash.
As well as that, Cunha (and compatriot Casemiro) had travelled the furthest distance of any other player over the international break with Brazil, taking part in friendlies against South Korea and Japan before flying home to Manchester.
It didn’t have a toll on his output, though. Cunha enjoyed a sensational shift up front for the travelling Reds, playing all 90 minutes as United clinched a triumphant win on their arch-rivals’ turf for the first time in nine-and-a-half years.
Deeney pours praise on Cunha
Reacting to his display on Match of the Day, Deeney said of United’s No.10 (h/t UtdDistrict): “I’ve been really impressed from the moment that he signed. Even from his Instagram posts, he seems like someone who wants all of the pressure.”
Later, after analysing some of Cunha’s play throughout the affair, Deeney was asked whether Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were, in his eyes, upgrades on predecessors Antony and Alejandro Garnacho.
The former Watford frontman responded: “Oh, absolutely. But also compared to the past, yes — it just raises the level as well. It says to everybody else: ‘yes, we bought these people in for big money, and yes, they expect to start, but if you’re not delivering the basics, [then you won’t play]’.”
