The total financial outlay Manchester United have committed towards Matheus Cunha is estimated to be £123.5 million once the 26-year-old forward’s transfer fee and wage packet over his five-year contract are combined, according to a report.
The Red Devils confirmed Cunha as their first summer signing yesterday after triggering the Wolverhampton Wanderers forward’s £62.5 million release clause at Molineux.
United will pay the fee in three instalments across two years, costing £20.85 million each. The Reds had asked to stagger the payment over five year but this was rejected by Wolves.
However, The Athletic reveals United will still be able to spread the cost of the deal across five years on their books.
Cunha’s current salary in the Black Country is thought to be around £120,000 a week, but this will now jump to £200,000 a week at Old Trafford. He has signed a five-year deal with the option for an additional twelve months.
The Brazilian international will also be given the esteemed number ten shirt – a reflection of the club’s faith in their new signing, but also an implicit reminder that the previous holder, Marcus Rashford, no longer has a future in Manchester.
In total, The Athletic calculates, Cunha will cost United £123.5 million, further demonstrating the firm belief at Old Trafford that the 26-year-old will become a pivotal member of Ruben Amorim’s side.
The £62.5 million release clause, spready across five years, plus around £12 million in salary over the same time period, amounts to £123.5 million. £1.9 million of the total will be included in the club’s accounts for 2024/25.
“By signing on June 1, one month’s worth of the fee hits United’s books in 2024-25, alongside Cunha’s wages estimated to be around £200,000 per week (with pension and national insurance costs borne by United on top of that).
“Cunha’s signing adds £1.9m to United’s accounts in 2024-25. The forward will then cost £24.3m a year over the next five seasons — £12.3m in annual transfer fee amortisation and £12m per year in employment costs, if going by the £200,000-per-week estimate.
This amount could grow, however, as it does include agent fees.
Amorim is reported to have personally approved Cunha as a target and played a key role in convincing the Wolves star to make the switch to Old Trafford. The Portuguese coach will care little for future balance sheets at Old Trafford if Cunha begins next season on fire on the pitch.
And neither will the United faithful, after a maddening season watching the current cohort of forwards at Old Trafford.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
