Manchester United's significant summer investment in forward Matheus Cunha is facing intense scrutiny, with the Brazilian international warned he may never recapture the form he showed at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A Slow Start at Old Trafford
The 26-year-old completed a high-profile £62.5 million transfer to Old Trafford during the summer window. However, he has managed to find the net just once in his opening 13 appearances for the club.
Despite showing occasional flashes of the ability that convinced United to part with such a substantial fee, Cunha has failed to make the same immediate impact as fellow summer arrival Bryan Mbeumo. His performances have been described as merely 'OK' by critics who expected more from the former Wolves star.
Cascarino's Critical Assessment
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has been particularly vocal in his assessment, suggesting the praise for Cunha's performances has been 'exaggerated'.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Cascarino elaborated: 'Matheus Cunha, there's been an exaggeration of how well he's done at Manchester United. He hasn't done that well. Yes, he's done OK and if he can get back to what he was at Wolves he'll be a good signing.'
Cascarino highlighted the stark contrast in output, noting: 'He had a goal one in every two games at Wolves.' He acknowledged Cunha's ability to carry the ball effectively from midfield but stressed the player offered 'a lot more than that at Wolves.'
The Bruno Fernandes Conundrum
Perhaps more concerning for manager Ruben Amorim is Cascarino's observation that Cunha's arrival has negatively affected captain Bruno Fernandes.
The analysis suggests that to accommodate Cunha in the side, Fernandes has been operating in a deeper midfield position this season. This tactical shift appears to have diminished the Portuguese playmaker's influence on games.
Cascarino concluded that the signing has come at 'a little bit of a price for Manchester United,' given the knock-on effect on their most creative force.
Sesko's Injury Worry
The concerns don't end with Cunha. Another expensive summer recruit, Benjamin Sesko, is also struggling to adapt to life at United.
His difficult start hit a new low during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Tottenham, where he suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury after a promising pass from Fernandes.
Cascarino, who was covering the match, expressed grave concerns: 'I think he's got a bad injury. I think you're going to find out he's out for a while.'
Manager Ruben Amorim confirmed the worries in his post-match press conference, stating: 'We have to check, he had something in his knee. We have to see. Because it's the knee we never know [how serious the injury is]. We need Ben to be a better team.'
With two major signings failing to deliver immediate returns and one now facing a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines, the pressure is mounting on Amorim to find solutions quickly at Old Trafford.
