Cunha is 'Manchester United's own rebel'

Cunha brings spontaneity to Manchester United's playing style.

Manchester United once had Cantona with his head held high, once had Wayne Rooney with his burning instinct for scoring goals. And now, Matheus Cunha - a new face - seems to be revealing a new chapter full of promise to the fans.

Cunha's Difference

The moment Cunha appeared in the 0-1 loss to Arsenal in the first round of the 2025/26 Premier League on August 17, people saw the difference. Not many chances were created, no goals of a lifetime, but what he brought was the feeling: "This is a player worth waiting for". Because football, after all, is not just cold numbers but also the emotions spread by a special personality.

Cunha was the kind of player that Old Trafford revered. He played like a rebel, reckless but not meaningless - a player who was unruly, reckless, even a little "rebellious" on the pitch.

Every touch from the former Wolves star was a message: I am not afraid, I dare to challenge. When Cunha dribbled past Declan Rice, when he deftly turned around Kai Havertz, when he dared to shoot early in the face of Saliba's pressing - these were moments that reminded us of a time when Manchester United had players who brought character to the pitch, not just style.

Cunha played well in round 1 of the Premier League 2025/26 season, even though MU lost 0-1 to Arsenal.

Clearly, Ruben Amorim sees a special role in Cunha: a left-sided No. 10, where he can roam, hold the ball and drive straight towards goal. Manchester United have long lacked a player who dares to “take the limelight”.

Marcus Rashford was once highly-regarded, but in recent years, superficiality and inconsistent form have seen him lose the trust of the Stretford End. Cunha has come along at the right time to fill that void.

But to become a “cultural hero” - skills alone are not enough. Personality is needed. And that is where Cunha reminds many people of Cantona or Rooney.

He is not afraid of controversy, not afraid of collision, and sometimes ready to cross the line of impulsiveness. 18 yellow cards in 72 games for Wolves, a headbutt on Kerkez that led to a red card, a collision with security staff that broke glass... all create the image of a player who can "rebel" at any time.

For many managers, that is trouble. For Manchester United fans, sometimes it is spice. They love imperfect people who are real.

Cantona had a kung-fu kick that went down in history, Rooney had his fair share of tempers, but it was those rough edges that made them iconic. The problem is, Amorim must learn to control the fire in Cunha - to let it burn on the pitch rather than off it.

Challenge for Cunha

At 26, Cunha doesn’t have much time left to “wander” like before. He has gone through Sion, Leipzig, Hertha, Atletico Madrid and Wolves, but none of them have become the land he truly belongs to. Old Trafford could be where Cunha shapes his career, and also where he has the opportunity to affirm: he is not just a rebel, but a star who brings value.

Cunha is the new number 10 of Manchester United.

Of course, there are still doubts. Former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann criticized his poor finishing, former Hertha Berlin coach Pal Dardai questioned his work ethic, and Wolves captain Vitor Pereira complained about his body language.

Cunha’s international career was also limited to a modest number with Brazil. But it is a fact: many players who were once rejected found their identity at Manchester United - where the audience craved something different.

In his debut match, Jamie Vardy gave Cunha a shirt with the message: “What a player”. It was not only a respect from a veteran colleague, but also a prediction. Because at Manchester United, players who dare to give their all, dare to be “arrogant” and dare to make a difference, will often be promoted.

Matheus Cunha is not Cantona, and certainly not Rooney. But he has done the most important thing: making Old Trafford remember the feeling of being trusted, loved and expected in a new personality.

In football, the love of the audience is the strongest medicine. And Cunha, with all his impulsiveness and ambition, is facing the opportunity to write his own story - the story of a new "cultural hero" at the "Theatre of Dreams".

Source: https://znews.vn/cunha-la-ke-noi-loan-cua-rieng-manchester-united-post1578127.html