Manchester United icon Paul Ince has delivered a stunning comparison for the club's summer signing Matheus Cunha, suggesting the Brazilian forward's style of play evokes memories of Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona.
Ince's Glowing Cantona Comparison
The praise came after Cunha's influential performance in United's thrilling 4-4 draw against Bournemouth on Monday night. Deployed as a central number nine, the £62.5 million signing from Wolves was at the heart of much of United's attacking play and scored his second goal of the season – the Red Devils' fourth on the night – with a late finish.
Speaking to Covers.com, former United, Liverpool, and Inter Milan midfielder Ince was effusive in his assessment. 'Matheus Cunha reminds me of Eric Cantona in the way he plays,' Ince stated. 'Technically, Cunha is very good and he knows how to run with the ball at his feet. He might not be the quickest player, but he is very powerful and covers the whole pitch, as we saw last night against Bournemouth, and he shares those characteristics with Cantona.'
A 'Top Player' Justifying His Price Tag
Ince went on to describe the 24-year-old as a 'top player' who has improved in leaps and bounds since his big-money move. '£62.5 million was a considerable sum to spend on a player, but he is already proving to be a great buy,' Ince added, acknowledging that fellow signing Bryan Mbeumo has also done well, but that Cunha has adapted slightly quicker.
A key part of that adaptation, according to Ince, is mentality. 'Cunha plays with an attitude that he seems to belong at Old Trafford, which is great to see,' he said. 'The team relies on him a lot: if he plays well, the team does too. To be a great United player, like Cantona, you have to have a fantastic mindset, and Cunha has it. He has shown he is capable of playing with the weight of the shirt and the pressure of the badge week in, week out.'
Overcoming Criticism and Looking Ahead
The goal against Bournemouth was a timely response to some criticism Cunha had faced for his lack of scoring prior to the match. With just two goals this season, his output was below expectations after he netted 15 times for Wolves last campaign.
United manager Rubén Amorim admitted earlier this month that Cunha had been frustrated by his wayward finishing, despite impressing with his overall play. Amorim revealed his own method of shielding players from external noise, stating: 'I protect myself and nobody is harder on me than I am when we lose and when we don't play well. Nowadays it is very normal to have that mistreatment, so it's the only way to survive.'
Cunha's return to scoring comes before a crucial festive period for Manchester United, with fixtures against Aston Villa, Newcastle, and a return match against his former club Wolves on the horizon. His ability to maintain this form could be pivotal to United's ambitions.
