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“He makes magic happen every day,” the former Wolves assistant head coach Ian Burchnall says of Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian is one of the few remaining mavericks at the top of the game, those so natural with the ball at their feet it gets spectators out of their seats whenever they receive possession.
Cunha is possibly entering the final weeks of his Wolves career having lit up Molineux for two-and-a-half years after arriving from Atlético Madrid. A lot of his time in the Premier League has been dragging Wolves towards survival with his own unique skillset and producing brilliance from nothing.
“He’s a player that plays on his instinct, he doesn’t like to spend hours looking through opposition and tactical bits,” Burchnall says. “He likes to feel the game and more play on instincts than anything, which obviously when a lot of coaches are working on deep tactical work, he doesn’t always slot into that because those sorts of free spirits are not seen as much. But if you can get him into the positions where he likes to be and then allow him that freedom, I think you get a lot out of Matheus.”
The 25-year-old has arguably outgrown Wolves, even if their form under Vítor Pereira has put them on an upward trajectory. Manchester United and others are circling, wondering whether to part with a hefty stack of cash for the attacking midfielder. Clearly Cunha has the quality to play for a club higher up the table, but some question his temperament, having served two suspensions this season.
“He has a fire inside and an edge to him,” Burchnall acknowledges. “I think every top player has that edge. I know he’s disappointed afterwards. He can be an emotional guy that feels a lot during the game and that’s where that comes out. It probably comes from a good place, but at the same time, you can’t consistently do those sort of things.”
If there were fears Wolves were a one-man team, they were allayed when Cunha missed four games in March and April. Pereira’s side eased through the period with three wins and a draw, with the manager then leaving out Cunha when he was next available. The player accepted the decision and remained professional, seizing his chance after coming on as a substitute Tottenham to score in a 4-2 win against Tottenham. There is clearly an increased maturity in a player who has previously shown upset at being taken off, feeling he needs to be on at all times.
The statistics show Cunha’s worth: in 31 Premier League appearances this season he has scored 15, creating a further six. He was shackled during the weekend defeat to Brighton, where Mats Wieffer became his shadow and kept him extremely quiet, even forcing Cunha into a mistake that resulted in him giving away a penalty. He was eventually substituted on the hour mark.
Coaches have used Cunha in various positions across the frontline but he is at his best playing in the left-hand channel behind a central striker. One statistic that is not so generous to Cunha is the fact he spends more time walking than any other outfield player in the division, a trait thatmay put off coaches with a high-energy style. It gives off the impression that Cunha is lazy, but that is far from the truth. He is someone that is eager to get the ball to feet, and sometimes that requires slowing down to find space.
“Fans come to football to be entertained; Cunha is an entertainer,” says Burchnall. “He has the ability to turn the game in a moment and I think fans love that. Sometimes those mavericks can frustrate you a little bit, but at the same time, they’re the ones that you come to see.
“You always had a feeling that when he picked up the ball and started running with it, he brought the fans with us into the game and somebody like that can change momentum in a game because when the ground is flat and you get him on the ball and he does something magic, it lifts the crowd and that helps everybody.”
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Cunha is often the welcoming committee for new players at Wolves because he is multilingual. Having left Brazil as a teenager to move to Switzerland, he also appreciates the difficulties in adapting and what helps a person settle on and off the pitch. “He’s able to communicate with everybody, he’s a very intelligent guy. Speaking five languages is no joke,” Burchnall says.
Julen Lopetegui was the man who brought Cunha to Wolves, first on loan in January 2023 before a £35m permanent deal was completed that summer. He made minimal impact in Spain and if Cunha does earn a move to a bigger European club once more, he will be eager to right the wrongs of his 18 months in Madrid.
Cunha is neither short of talent or suitors but, as he seeks to take the next step in his career, he will need to use his best attribute to make that work: liberating himself.
