Manchester United have reached an agreement with the Brazilian Football Confederation for Matheus Cunha to rest for the final three Premier League matches in order to conserve his fitness ahead of the World Cup.
Manchester United made a noteworthy decision by agreeing to let Matheus Cunha miss the remainder of the Premier League season.
The agreement was reached with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), in the context of the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
This move comes right after the victory against Liverpool on May 3rd, a match in which Cunha scored and helped MU officially secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
With their domestic objectives accomplished, the Old Trafford team is no longer under pressure regarding points.
According to ESPN Brazil , Cunha will miss the final three rounds, including matches against Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton. Instead of playing, the striker will undergo a specially designed recovery process.
The main reason stems from the adductor muscle problem that Cunha has been experiencing recently. Although he continues to play under Michael Carrick, even when playing in pain, the risk of a more serious injury remains if he continues to endure high-intensity pressure.
Therefore, MU and the CBF agreed on a plan for Cunha to “rest early” to avoid the worst-case scenario. The goal is to ensure Cunha is in optimal physical condition when he joins the national team.
This decision gives a huge advantage to coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is facing a squad dilemma ahead of the World Cup. Keeping a key player like Cunha in top form is crucial to Brazil’s ambitions.
This is also a rare case where a major European club proactively prioritizes international duties over the final stages of the season. For MU, this choice makes sense as they have already achieved their goal of qualifying for the Champions League.
In this context, all attention is now focused on Cunha’s recovery process, as he enters the most crucial stage of preparation for the World Cup.
