MANCHESTER: Matheus Cunha hopes he can bring Wayne Rooney’s spirit back to Manchester United.
The £62.5 million Brazilian signing was a revelation for the Red Devils’ 2008 Champions League-winning squad.
At that time, he was only nine years old, fascinated to make Man United his favorite club.
Every week he watches matches involving Man United and goes out to play at his own version of ‘Old Trafford’.
Among the stars in Alex Ferguson’s squad at that time, the one he was most interested in was England captain Wayne Rooney.
Cunha, 26, sees the qualities of the club’s top scorer with 253 goals as very close to his own and he hopes to bring that glory back to the current United squad.
The former Wolves and Atletico Madrid striker said: “I remember the whole squad when I first saw it.
“I like Rooney up front. He’s someone who has the same thing in my game, because I always give my all too.
“He wears the number 10, everyone loves his skills but he always gives more than that.
“He will make tackles to get the ball, this kind of energy in him is the best example.”
Even though 17 years have passed, Cunha can still name every player who helped United beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties in Moscow after the Champions League final ended 1-1 after extra time.
“Of course I can name players. Cristiano Ronaldo – everyone knows, Ryan Giggs too.
“I can picture the team now – starting with Edwin van der Sar in goal, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in defence. Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick.
“That team had a big impact on me as a teenager,” Cunha said.
Cunha’s performances at Molineux and his 17 goals for Wolves last season have made him one of the most sought-after players in this transfer window.
United may not be the first choice for some players after a disappointing season, especially without European competition next season when they finished the campaign in 15th place on 42 points.
But for Cunha, the opportunity to wear a United jersey is something quite special for him and hard to pass up.
“Maybe other people don’t understand my decision. But when you cultivate the dream since childhood to play here, it’s easy to make that decision.
“It’s hard for me to explain, but there’s no other like United. My decision is based on what this club is capable of,” he said.