In order to be nicknamed ‘The King’, you need to have done something special. In the case of Eric Cantona, he helped to turn Manchester United into the global superpower they are today.
When Alex Ferguson was crying out for the final piece in a title-winning jigsaw, he found it in the form of an enigmatic Frenchman who turned Old Trafford into the fabled ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
More legends have been forged since then - from Roy Keane to Bruno Fernandes via Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney - but nobody has claimed Cantona’s crown. In the present, the Red Devils have found another potential heir.
Mercurial Playmaker
Matheus Cunha is cut from the same Cantona cloth, as a mercurial playmaker capable of delivering moments of match-altering brilliance. Premier League heavyweights need him to do that on a regular basis, starting in a game that sees Tottenham vs Manchester United betting weighted in favour of 8/5 hosts.
The Red Devils are yet to truly convince those casting an eye over football odds this season, despite being cut to 9/4 for a top-four finish and a return to Champions League competition. Inconsistency on the red half of Manchester has proved to be an issue.
Vast funds have been invested while trying to recapture former glories, but little value has been found across several transfer windows. It may, however, be that ยฃ62.5 million splashed out on Brazilian forward Cunha proves to be money well spent.
That figure is some 60 times higher than the sum required to capture Cantona’s signature in 1992, but it could end up filling the same bargain bracket. Long gone are the days when world-class talent cost a mere seven figures, with nine often being required in the modern era.
Cunha is determined to capture the hearts of a loyal fan base, with his obvious ability suggesting that he should endear himself quickly to those in the stands. He opened his goal account for United in a much-needed victory over Brighton, with emotion spilling out during wild celebrations.
The Samba star is aware that comparisons to Cantona may be a little premature, saying “I need to do much more things” in order to justify that lofty billing. He will not, however, be backing down from the challenge of following in the footsteps of an iconic No.7.
Domestic Dominance
Cunha’s intention is to help United restore domestic and continental dominance, allowing him to savour “a little percentage” of what Cantona achieved. If he can do that, then the South American will be “very happy”.
Cantona won four top-flight titles with United, two FA Cups and three Community Shields. He was named PFA and FWA Footballer of the Year and was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.
Those are some sizeable boots for Cunha to try and fill. Whether or not he is able to do so remains to be seen, but United have found another Prince that is capable of staking a claim to the King’s throne and earning his own coronation.
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