Some players just scream “Manchester United” with their fearless and forward-thinking playing style, and Matheus Cunha is a fine example of the same, as evidenced by his new nickname.
Matheus Cunha made his Man Utd debut against Leeds in a goalless draw to kick off the pre-season, along with the likes of Diego Leon and Bendito Mantato.
Regardless of the result, Cunha’s performance was impressive, and the potential for him to form partnerships at Old Trafford is immense.
A sign of his popularity in the dressing room can already be seen from the fact that he seems to have received a new nickname from his teammates.
Matheus Cunha’s nickname at Man Utd
Amorim praised Cunha’s ability to put the blinkers on and run forward with the ball in small spaces, something which Man Utd lacked last season.
That quality seems to have transferred to the dressing room, with Manuel Ugarte and Lisandro Martinez coming up with a nickname for the player.
Cunha posted on Instagram after the game with the message, “Blessed! What a feeling to wear this shirt and have my first minutes with the boys, hungry for more. Thank you.”
In response, both Manuel Ugarte and Lisandro Martinez called him “Toro”, which translates from Spanish as “Bull”, an animal that perfectly encapsulates Cunha’s skill set.
Ugarte simply wrote, “Toro” with a bull emoji and a clapping emoji, while Martinez wrote, “Sos un toro”, which translates to “You are a bull”, with a bull emoji.
Lisandro Martinez nickname for Matheus Cunha in an Instagram comment
Everyone from Patrick Dorgu, Matthijs de Ligt, and Amad to Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford, and Leny Yoro liked Cunha’s post.
Cunha’s “Toro” quality was much-needed at Man Utd
It has been repeated ad nauseam and was on full display against Leeds, but it’s striking how big a difference a direct dribbler makes to this team.
Amad did it on the odd occasion when he was stationed as the wing-back, but he needs some space in front of him to really get into it.
Cunha, on the other hand, has deceptively quick acceleration and a change in direction that scrambles defences and creates space for others.
United found it near impossible to break through deep blocks last season, with transitions looking like their best source of goals.
Not only can Cunha run the transitions well, but his direct dribbling in small spaces between the lines makes him a priceless asset against deep blocks.
The “Toro” running through deep blocks with fearlessness should be quite a sight to behold at Old Trafford.