O’Neil has the potential to convert Wolves’ star into a phenomenon by replicating the £40 million Newcastle player’s arc.
Matheus Cunha is one of the most intriguing players on the Wolves’ roster right now.
The Brazilian joined the team on a season-long loan in January.
Wanderers paid a club record £44 million for his permanent transfer.
Cunha has made 25 appearances for Wolves thus far.
He has three goals and one assist, which are both quite low numbers for a “striker.”
Wolves reportedly recruited Cunha to play as a central striker and possibly out wide.
That seemed surprising at the time, considering Cunha had greater success as a second striker for Atleti and Hertha Berlin.
Cunha has been used as Wolves’ line-leading striker on various occasions. And it just does not function.
He’s never been prolific, and that’s unlikely to change.
But this does not mean that Cunha will turn out to be a bad signing for Wolves.
Because there has been another player like this in the Premier League in recent years.
Having struggled as a striker, he underwent a radical and unlikely transformation – and became one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the division…
There are shades of Joelinton with Matheus Cunha, who could benefit from a similar transformation
Joelinton arrived at Newcastle United in 2019 for £40 million – which was a club record at the time.
He took the number nine shirt at St. James’ Park – and it quickly became apparent that the role, the shirt number and the transfer fee was all too much for him.
He really struggled in front of goal, against cries from fans that he wasn’t a line-leading striker.
After Eddie Howe came in, things changed dramatically for Joelinton.
He was pushed pack into midfield and told to use his physicality and ball-carrying ability.
Joelinton absolutely thrived, and is now widely regarded as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League. It is an arc very few people saw coming.
Cunha is not as muscular as his fellow Brazilian. But he is probably a better ball carrier. And he works his socks off.
There just seems to be a lot of parallels here with Joelinton’s early predicament at Newcastle.
Cunha’s ending is dreadful. When he gets in front of the goal, he appears to panic.
Maybe Gary O’Neil, who questioned the player’s positioning after the loss to Liverpool, should look at what Eddie Howe did with Joelinton and try to replicate it.
This might therefore allow natural, line-leading attackers like Sasa Kalajdzic and/or Fabio Silva to play through the middle.
Cunha’s energy, tracking back, and ball carrying are all outstanding.
Perhaps it would be an ideal role for him.
