Matheus Cunha details what Ronaldinho told him after signing for Man Utd

Matheus Cunha has opened up on the conversation he had with Ronaldinho after completing a move to Manchester United – and the Brazilian legend made a big admission.

United announced the arrival of Cunha in early June after they triggered the £62.5 million release clause in his contract at Wolves.

The 26-year-old forward, who scored 17 goals across all competitions for Wolves last season, has already added some much-needed firepower to United's forward line.

He impressed in their Premier League opener against Arsenal, showcasing his ball-carrying ability and dribbling skills to the Old Trafford faithful.

And on Sunday, the former Atletico Madrid man will be hoping to make a similar impression against Fulham. Speaking ahead of the game, Cunha opened up on his move in an interview with Sky Sports.

Here, the Brazilian revealed what Ronaldinho – the man who helped shape his game growing up – said shortly after the transfer was announced.

Cunha began: "He said, 'Wow. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world. You deserve that.' He also spoke about the history between him and United, and said it would have been amazing to play there."

"He wished to play here," Cunha added. "He said it would have been something he would have enjoyed."

Back in the summer of 2003, then-Paris Saint-Germain forward Ronaldinho was on the verge of joining United for a reported £19 million.

In fact, former midfielder Kleberson, who spent two years at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2005, would later reveal how close his Brazilian counterpart came to joining the Premier League club.

"Ronaldinho told me he was going to Manchester," Kleberson told ESPN. "He kept saying to me, 'Come to Manchester!'".

But after weeks of rumours, Ronaldinho decided to join Barcelona in a deal that would bring plenty of questions from United fans, who were convinced they had snapped up one of the world's biggest talents.

Cunha often speaks to Ronaldinho

In an interview with The Times in 2024, Cunha gave an insight into his unique relationship with Ronaldinho.

“I won’t say we’re friends — that’s too big a word when you talk about your idol — but he is an unbelievably good guy and when I take out my phone and see something from Ronaldinho I start to be nervous," said Cunha. "I say, ‘This is my idol and I know him!".

On the lessons he learnt from Ronaldinho, the winger added: “Always when I go to the pitch, even if I have a lot of pressure, it is to remember this is my dream. And then I only want to be here to smile and do the things that God gives me."