"Manchester United is the team I want to play for." Mateus Cunha (26, Wolverhampton) is increasingly likely to don the Manchester United jersey during the summer transfer window.

British 'Sky Sports' reported on the 20th (Korea time) that "the possibility of Mateus Cunha agreeing to transfer to Manchester United after the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season is very high. Manchester United is ready to activate his buyout clause of £62.5 million (about 116 billion won)."

Official negotiations between Wolverhampton and Manchester United have not yet started. However, Manchester United is well aware of the conditions for activating the clause and is expected to begin formal contract procedures immediately after the season ends. Cunha is already receiving interest from several clubs but wants to join Manchester United. According to local reports, Cunha has noted that he "loves Manchester United."

Cunha, who has represented Brazil, joined Wolverhampton in 2022 from Atletico Madrid for a transfer fee of about £34 million (about 63.1 billion won). Since then, he has quickly established himself as a key attacker for the team, recording 27 goals and 13 assists in 63 Premier League matches.

His market value soared this summer. Clubs including Arsenal and Aston Villa, as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia, were prepared to pay the buyout amount, but Cunha has expressed a firm desire to join Manchester United. Team standings are not important. Currently, Manchester United is 16th in the Premier League, lower than Wolverhampton, but he has indicated that "Manchester United is still one of the best clubs in the world" and hopes to enter Old Trafford.

Former Manchester United defender and current Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville has strongly supported the acquisition of Cunha. He evaluated that "Manchester United has lost players who can carry the ball from the sides and the center. In the absence of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Antony, Cunha can perfectly fill that gap."

He continued, "Cunha can penetrate the center and also support wing-backs. He is perfectly suited for the tactical system desired by manager Ruben Amorim." Especially as Manchester United has recently faced difficulties in scoring, Cunha's "risk-taking ability" is considered a very attractive asset.

Concerns about Cunha's character have also been raised, but Neville praised him instead. "He possesses tenacity and a fighting spirit. The best players I played with, Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona, Carlos Tevez, all had that kind of personality. They were sometimes unpredictable and sometimes lost their discipline, but such players bring something special to the team," he said.

Only the decision remains. After the contract processes begin following the end of the season, Cunha is likely to be Manchester United's first major reinforcement this summer.

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