Wolves’ decision to sell Matheus Cunha to Manchester United for £62.5 million has been met with mixed reactions, sparking debates among fans, analysts, and even football pundits. On the surface, £62.5 million for a player who was widely seen as a key asset for Wolves seems like a significant transfer fee, especially when you consider the amounts some clubs are paying for players with comparable profiles. However, when we dive deeper into the specifics of the transfer, including the complexities surrounding additional clauses, payment installments, and the broader context of player power, it becomes clear that there’s more to this deal than meets the eye. Many feel that Wolves may have sold Cunha for less than what he was truly worth, and that there are a number of factors—both financial and non-financial—that contributed to this outcome.
The Financial Breakdown: What Wolves Will Actually Receive
While Manchester United reportedly paid £66 million for Matheus Cunha, the true amount that Wolves will actually receive is £62.5 million. The reason for this discrepancy lies in the way the transfer fee is structured. A portion of the £66 million will go to Cunha’s previous clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Hertha Berlin, RB Leipzig, and FC Sion. These clubs are entitled to a share of the transfer fee due to clauses inserted into the original agreements when Cunha was sold or loaned out to them in the past.
The total transfer fee includes the £62.5 million release clause that Wolves had agreed upon with Cunha when he joined the club. However, the additional £4.5 million that Manchester United paid above the release clause will not be pocketed by Wolves, but will instead be distributed to Cunha’s former clubs, according to the clauses inserted in his previous transfers. While this arrangement ensures that Cunha’s previous clubs are compensated for their role in his development, it also means that Wolves will see no more than the agreed-upon £62.5 million for his services.
This development has led to some frustration among Wolves fans, as the club has effectively been forced to settle for the base fee of £62.5 million, even though United paid more for Cunha. In the end, Wolves are getting less than what they might have hoped for when they initially agreed to the release clause. However, it’s also worth noting that the fee they did receive ensures that Cunha’s former clubs, especially Atletico Madrid, are compensated, which could also play a role in maintaining good relations with those clubs for future dealings.
Player Power and the Speculation That Surrounded Cunha
One of the most interesting aspects of this deal is the role that player power played in the decision to sell Cunha. Matheus Cunha has been at the center of transfer speculation for a significant period, with rumors about his future constantly swirling. While he undoubtedly showed moments of brilliance last season for Wolves, his performances were also sometimes overshadowed by off-field distractions, as well as the constant questions regarding his potential move to a bigger club. This situation created a cloud of uncertainty around the player, which, in turn, could have had an impact on the team dynamic at Wolves.
Wolves had a choice: they could have held out for a larger fee or kept Cunha for the remainder of the season. However, as time went on, it became increasingly clear that Cunha wanted a move to a club that could offer him more ambition and a higher-profile stage, like Manchester United. Given the intensity of the speculation and Cunha’s desire for a move, Wolves may have felt that they had little choice but to let him go rather than risk having a potentially unhappy player in the squad. The prospect of an unsettled player, one who was constantly linked with a move, could have caused unrest in the locker room, and that’s something Wolves likely wanted to avoid.
There’s also the issue of player power, which has become more pronounced in recent years. Modern footballers increasingly have the ability to influence their futures, and if a player is determined to leave, clubs often have little choice but to accommodate them, especially if the player’s departure is seen as inevitable. In Cunha’s case, his constant linking to bigger clubs may have meant that his departure was a matter of “when” rather than “if.” For Wolves, this may have meant that accepting Manchester United’s offer, despite the fact it fell short of Cunha’s true market value, was the best option to avoid having a disruptive figure in the dressing room.
The Market Context: Is £62.5 Million a Fair Price?
When comparing Cunha’s sale to other transfers in the current football market, many believe that Wolves may have sold the Brazilian international for less than what he was truly worth. Transfer prices for players of Cunha’s caliber—young, talented, and with a proven track record—have been escalating in recent years, and it’s hard to ignore the inflated fees being paid for players with similar profiles.
Take, for instance, players like Anthony Elanga and Noni Madueke. Both are younger talents with promising futures, but they have yet to demonstrate the same level of consistency or ability as Cunha. Elanga is set to move for a fee approaching £20 million, while Madueke was sold to Chelsea for a substantial fee, even though his time in the Premier League has been inconsistent at best. Given that Cunha has already proven his worth in top-flight football, contributing significantly to Wolves’ attack, it’s fair to argue that his value could have been set higher than £62.5 million. Many believe that Cunha, given his talent, versatility, and potential to thrive at a club like Manchester United, should have been sold for around £10 million more than the release clause figure.
In fact, given that transfer prices for players have reached new heights, Cunha’s £62.5 million fee feels almost like a bargain in comparison. The fact that other clubs are paying astronomical fees for players with far less proven success or potential suggests that Wolves might have undervalued Cunha, especially considering that players like Enzo Fernandez, Moisés Caicedo, and Declan Rice have all moved for record fees in recent windows. Cunha’s skill set, his age, and his ability to contribute to a top team should, theoretically, have commanded a higher transfer fee.
The Importance of Stability and the Question of Timing
One key question that arises from this sale is whether Wolves really needed to sell Cunha at this juncture. The team, despite his absence due to suspension, performed reasonably well in his absence, suggesting that his departure might not have had the profound impact that some anticipated. Wolves proved they could function effectively without Cunha, which raises the question: was his sale truly necessary for the good of the team, or was it more about getting ahead of a potential problem?
If Wolves had decided to hold onto Cunha for a longer period, they might have been able to negotiate a better deal, especially if Manchester United or another interested club had returned with an improved offer. However, by accepting the £62.5 million fee early in the transfer window, Wolves ensured that they could reinvest in the squad and move on quickly from the ongoing speculation. This decision, while financially questionable in hindsight, could be seen as a practical step to ensure the stability of the team moving forward.
Wolves could have potentially held firm and resisted Manchester United’s advances. They could have waited until the winter transfer window to revisit the situation, but the prospect of having a player whose focus was divided could have been disruptive. It’s clear that Wolves made the decision to act quickly, sell Cunha, and avoid any further speculation.
Final Thoughts: Was It the Right Move?
In the end, the true impact of the sale will not be known until several years down the line. If Cunha goes on to become a key player for Manchester United and flourishes at Old Trafford, then it may well feel like Wolves let a top talent slip through their fingers for too little money. However, if Cunha struggles to adapt to his new surroundings or if Manchester United’s plans don’t materialize as hoped, then Wolves could look back on this sale as a savvy piece of business.
Ultimately, the club’s decision to sell Cunha was based on a combination of financial considerations, player power dynamics, and the need to maintain squad harmony. While it’s easy to say that Wolves sold Cunha for too little, it’s important to remember that the timing of the deal and the broader context of the transfer market played a role in shaping the outcome. Whether the deal will ultimately prove to be a success or a missed opportunity depends largely on how Cunha performs in the coming years and how Wolves utilize the funds they’ve received from his sale. For now, it’s a deal that raises more questions than answers, and one that will be closely watched in the seasons to come.