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“Revealed: The Genius Move That Got Matheus Cunha to Choose Wolves Over Everton in 2023
A significant moment in Wolves’ recent history came with the signing of Matheus Cunha, who has grown into a key player since his arrival in January 2023.
The Brazilian forward, who joined from Atletico Madrid for £44 million more than two years ago, has become Wolves’ most influential player and could even break the club’s transfer record this summer.
To fend off interest in January, Wolves included a £62.5 million release clause in Cunha’s new contract, sending a clear message to potential suitors.
Cunha is having a career-best season, with 15 goals across all competitions, including 13 in the Premier League, contributing to 44% of the team’s goal involvements.
His progress has been remarkable, especially considering the initial doubts surrounding his move to Molineux after a difficult start.
However, Cunha is now on track to become a world-class centre-forward, and credit for this success goes to the man who signed him.
How Julen Lopetegui Convincingly Brought Matheus Cunha to Wolves
When Wolves broke their transfer record to sign Cunha, it was seen as a bold statement.
Despite the club’s battle against relegation, then-manager Julen Lopetegui managed to convince Cunha to join Wolves over league rivals Leeds United and Everton.
In January 2023, Lopetegui revealed how he sold the vision of the club to Cunha, despite Wolves’ poor position in the table at the time.
“We explained to him our project,” Lopetegui told the Shropshire Star. “Each player sees our position in the table, and sometimes we are not in the best position to convince the player.
But in the end, he wanted to come here. He believes in the future, and he can be part of the present.”
Lopetegui also emphasized the importance of teamwork, saying, “The goals are a job for the entire team, not just the forwards. Before you score goals, you have to work hard in all aspects of the match. We have to be ready.”
Lopetegui Didn’t Maximize Cunha’s Potential
In the lead-up to the 2023/24 season, Lopetegui left Wolves after feeling unsupported by club owners Fosun during the summer transfer window. In hindsight, his departure may have been beneficial for Cunha’s development.
While the Brazilian had a strong relationship with Lopetegui, his style didn’t quite align with the manager’s tactics, which was reflected in his modest return of just two goals in 20 appearances under the Spaniard.
Some of these struggles could be attributed to adapting to the Premier League, but Cunha’s impressive form since Lopetegui’s exit suggests that the former Real Madrid boss may not have been the right fit for the player.
