Teamwork makes the dream work

Man Utd supplied “the most effective LWs in Europe” & it is dangerous information for Cunha

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With Ruben Amorim out the door, Jason Wilcox and INEOS will lastly get their want at Manchester United, having reportedly pleaded with the Portuguese coach to shift to a 4-3-3 in latest weeks and months.

The issue? The Previous Trafford hierarchy have assembled a squad that merely does not seem suited to that method, notably leaving new head coach Michael Carrick with simply 4 senior central midfielders to select from.

A much bigger subject lies on the left flank, nonetheless, having overseen the exits of a string of wingers final summer season, specifically Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

These departures had been little doubt wanted, however the lack of a substitute has now left the aspect trying unbalanced, not least with Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and younger Shea Lacey all favouring the right-wing berth.

Matheus Cunha is likely to be a viable possibility off the left, though he too is not an out-and-out winger. A brand new addition is required.

Man Utd might have the prospect to signal dream left-winger

The absence of Amad and Mbeumo performed a key half in Darren Fletcher’s choice final outing, though it was stark the shortage of attacking choices within the 2-1 defeat to Brighton, with United merely trying blunt with Mason Mount and Cunha on both flank.

Matheus-Cunha-Man-Utd-Newcastle

The Brazilian usually operated as a quantity ten or makeshift striker again at Molineux, having repeatedly regarded to return inside in opposition to the Seagulls, fairly than function as a chalk on his boots model winger.

For a membership of Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and co, that deployment merely is not a long-term enterprise, with it having been no shock that the Crimson Devils had been eager to land new Manchester Metropolis star Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth to fill that left-sided void.

The Ghanaian is already dazzling on the Etihad, however irrespective of, with Caught Offside suggesting that there’s a slim likelihood INEOS might land Paris Saint-Germain sensation Bradley Barcola this summer season.

Certainly, the report means that the Ligue 1 outfit have explored the prospect of a swap deal involving the Frenchman and the aforementioned Rashford, ought to the latter man return from his mortgage spell at Barcelona on the finish of the season.

It’s considered as ‘extremely unlikely’ that the 28-year-old could be fascinated about shifting to France, though ought to a dream keep at Camp Nou come to an finish, it absolutely cannot be dominated out.

Why Barcola signing may very well be dangerous information for Cunha

The way forward for Bruno Fernandes stays unsure at Previous Trafford, though for so long as the Portuguese genius stays in Manchester, he would be the go-to determine in that quantity ten position in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.

With Mbeumo more likely to take up the position on the best, it might go away Cunha as the present more than likely possibility off the left, albeit with the Brazilian much more suited centrally.

The £62.5m signing could effectively discover himself out of the aspect then if a real winger like Barcola is signed, with the 23-year-old undoubtedly “the most effective left-wingers in Europe“, as described by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson

PSG winger Bradley Barcola

That standing is greater than merited contemplating the heights he reached underneath Luis Enrique final season, racking up 42 objectives and assists in 64 video games in all competitions for the Champions League-winning aspect.

That included 25 aim involvements in Ligue 1, eclipsing Cunha’s personal return of 21 within the Premier League, with Barcola once more edging his attacking counterpart in 2025/26.

Regardless of not being at his breathtaking greatest, the previous Lyon starlet has 5 objectives to his title already within the league, forward of Cunha’s return of 4 in his debut marketing campaign at United.

There could be an actual distinction in high quality between these two leagues, though Barcola’s expertise will not be with out query, having additionally in contrast favourably to wingers and attacking midfielders throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues.

LWs in Europe’s high 5 leagues – 24/25

Participant

Objectives & Assists

Raphinha

30

Barcola

25

Vini Jr

21

Luis Diaz

20

Vincenzo Grifo

19

Rafael Leao

18

Moses Simon

18

Davitashvili

17

Baena

17

Heung-min Son

17

Stats through Transfermarkt

As per FBref, he notably ranks within the high 5% for assists per 90, in addition to within the high 1% for touches within the attacking penalty space per 90, recurrently weaving his method into the opposition field at will.

Cunha, in the meantime, ranks in simply the underside 23% and the highest 37% for those self same two metrics, respectively, whereas additionally failing behind with regard to interceptions made per 90 (0.6 vs 0.71), highlighting Barcola’s superior capacity at main the press from the entrance.

Barcola vs Liverpool wingers 2024-25 (timeless)

For much too lengthy, amid the woes of Sancho and co, the flanks have been an actual subject for United, though with Mbeumo starting to flourish already on the best, Barcola might effectively repeat the trick off the left.

Fairly what that every one means for Cunha? Effectively, the Amorim favorite must showcase that he actually generally is a catalyst and talisman on this workforce.

Carrick-Man-Utd


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