Manchester United star compared to Eric Cantona; will he spearhead the rise to the top?

Stephen Warnock compares Matheus Cunha to Manchester United icon Eric Cantona

Manchester United had been struggling with their attack in the 2024/25 season, and they had missed the spark that would take them over the line. United fans were dreaming of attacking reinforcements that could change the match with their infectious energies and qualities. This is the very reason why the club decided to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves by paying his release clause in the summer. The 26-year-old became Ruben Amorim’s first summer signing in 2025.

The Portuguese manager wanted Cunha to influence games with creativity and clever movement in the attacking third. The Brazilian is tactically versatile, drops deep to link up with the midfielders, and has found success in the Premier League. So, the Red Devils felt that he would have been the perfect signing for this reputed club. In recent weeks, Cunha has finally started to display why United signed him for that whopping amount.

The Brazilian influenced the game against Liverpool at Anfield with his movement off the ball, ball control and his composure in decisive moments. The 26-year-old has still not registered his name in the scoresheet, but fans can’t just measure his impact in numbers. We reported earlier that Antony, who left this summer, said Matheus Cunha wanted him to stay at Manchester United. That shows his team spirit.

Meanwhile, former defender Stephen Warnock spoke on BBC Radio Five Live’s ‘Monday Night Club’ and couldn’t hide his admiration for the Brazilian attacker. He compared Cunha’s influence to Eric Cantona. He praised how Cunha controlled the ball under pressure and drew fouls to help the team in key moments.

Warnock said Cunha carried that “aura” and the kind of presence that lifts players around him. Club legend David May earlier also backed Cunha to do well at Old Trafford. So far, he has proved that belief right.

“In the build-up we were talking, ‘Is it a surprise Sesko is not playing?’ and I was like ‘no.’ Because you want a plan B for the second half, if you want to press properly and want to get hold of the ball. I thought Cunha was outstanding. The best player on the pitch by a country mile. 

“He retained the ball, took the pressure off his team, drew fouls at important times, and it was one of those moments when you think, I don’t want to throw out a big name, but I am going to… the influence of Cantona. He’s got that aura, he’s got that weight of the shirt, and goes ‘I love it.’ There was a moment very late in the game, and I was just purring over it. There were three players around him; he wasn’t fussed, he didn’t care at all…”

Living up to the hype, but has failed to find the net