A look at the ins and outs of the deal.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Charlie, looking at Wolves and it's tough at the moment to look at Wolves without picking out
00:06Mateus Cunha. He's obviously confirmed that deal after an amazing performance against Aston Villa,
00:12sealing the win at Molyneux. Sort of a perfect night for Wolves fans in what's been a real torrid season.
00:18There was obviously questions when Vitor Pereira came in and pointed out Cunha's attitude problems as well.
00:24So quite a strange situation there, but it seems like that dust has settled and Cunha's very much back to his best.
00:32An amazing performance away at Blackburn Rovers as well. Interesting the fact that Vitor played his main players in that game,
00:40introduced the likes of Giao Gomez back into the side as well. Cunha has been so important.
00:46What's the importance of the deal? I know it includes that big release clause, but if it carries on,
00:53I'm sure top teams across Europe would probably pay that. So how do you summarise this deal and where it leaves him and his Wolves future?
01:02I'm not sure if he'll stay long term. I know that's not what Wolves fans want to hear, but it's kind of the reality of it, isn't it?
01:08Because you can see the quality he brings on the pitch week in and week out, the effort he brings as well.
01:13It's very strange with that body language situation away at Chelsea, wasn't it, where Vitor just wasn't happy at all with what he saw.
01:20But I think that was a one-off. The players just had a bit of an off night.
01:23I mean, there's been plenty of off nights this season for the squad as a whole, but Cunha is normally the one performing.
01:28That was one off night. Rest of the season, though, he's been excellent. Just the way he turns away from defenders.
01:33He's got that impetus he has to attacks. He can drive forward. He can create moments in an instant.
01:38That second goal against Villa, just the way he turned away from Konzi, I think Konzi's got him here.
01:43He's going to jockey him and get the ball out. No, he beat two or three defenders in the end, squeezed it through a gap into the far corner.
01:49Such quality. And even if he is here only until the end of the season, I think that's still a huge boost for Wolves.
01:55Had he gone in January, maybe to the likes of Arsenal or Nottingham Forest.
01:58That's such a key talismanic figure you're losing in a relegation battle, which doesn't just mean staying in a division.
02:04It also means keeping the financial side of the club at bay.
02:07And you know how much Wolves have struggled with their finances over recent years, not being able to make too many signings.
02:12Just imagine what it would be like if they dropped down to the championship.
02:15Results might improve, the morale might improve, but the overall perspective of the football club wouldn't.
02:19And then Cunha, if he does go, in terms of financial boost, £62.5 million is the release clause.
02:25I can see a club activating that in the summer, to be honest. He's been that good.
02:29And if he does go, well, obviously it's a big blow, but Wolves can then rebuild if they stay up in the summer.
02:35Bring in some players with that money, hopefully some younger faces coming through as well, and they can build on from that.
02:40So as much as it would be a big loss having Cunha exiting the building, I don't think it would be too catastrophic.
02:46And quickly, just a note on a defence. I want to shout out Agbadoo and Toti Gomez.
02:50That duo coming into the defence has made such a difference for Wolves, especially Toti, just giving them that structure on the left-hand side.
02:57And we've seen that with two back-to-back link sheets. So well done to those two, and hopefully more to continue.