May 26, 2026 07:02 BST |
5 minutes of reading
Manchester United striker Matheus Cunha has inadvertently become involved in the Neymar soap opera taking place in Brazil.
The injury-prone 34-year-old made headlines last week when he was surprisingly included in Brazil’s final World Cup squad. After being constantly inundated with questions about Neymar from the local press, Carlo Ancelotti relented and included him.
At first glance, the megastar’s nomination should not have raised eyebrows given that he makes a difference in his time. However, the fact that he was called up at the expense of Chelsea star Joao Pedro caused consternation.
The 24-year-old, who has scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Blues this season, looked like a sure candidate for the final squad. only to be left heartbroken. “They say that European football is more intense, but playing football here in Brazil is very complicated,” Ancelotti explained his decision.
“There is a tight schedule, travel, heat, it is difficult to compare them. Then there are the individual characteristics of the players. We are sad for Joao Pedro. Given the season he had with Chelsea, he probably deserved it, but unfortunately, with all due respect, we chose other players.”
Ancelotti warned against starting Neymar
A week later, Neymar’s decision remains the subject of heated debate in Brazil. There are big question marks over how Ancelotti will field his team at the World Cup, and the suggestion that the veteran could start is driving one pundit crazy.
Fernando Kallas has published a column in The Globe in which he shares his opinion on who should start in attack for the Selecao. For him, choosing Manchester United striker Matheus Cunha is a no-brainer.
Neymar should not be anywhere near the starting line-up, according to Kallas, and he certainly should not be in the team ahead of Cunha, who scored 10 goals in his first season at Old Trafford.
“No Brazilian attacking player had a better season this year than Matheus Cunha,” argues Kallas, describing the striker as “one of the pillars” of Manchester United’s recent resurgence.
He laughed at the idea of Neymar getting the nod before the 26-year-old, writing: “This column is about Matheus Cunha, the guy who many suggest should be benched to make room for Neymar.
“Regardless of who is behind him, Cunha was one of the best players of the season in the best league in the world. The very idea that he is not in Brazil’s starting team seems completely crazy to me.”
Brazil needs Cunha because he is “the engine and the escape valve” and “a buffalo that does the work of ants,” Kallas explained. “Basically, when the team is under pressure, you give the ball to Cunha, and he will do everything he can to get it 10 to 15 meters into the box.”
A 34-year-old Neymar, plagued by repeated injuries, no longer has the ability to do so at a world-class level. Cunha, on the other hand, looks set to play a huge role for his country on the biggest stage this summer.
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