What will it take for Dream Team managers to recognise the genius of Matheus Cunha?
DON’T say we didn’t warn you.
Matheus Cunha (£5.4m) was the standout Dream Team performer over the weekend as he banked a whopping 22 points against Leicester.
The Wolves forward opened the scoring against the Foxes and assisted two other goals as Vitor Pereira’s side extended their winning streak with a 3-0 victory.
Not only was Cunha directly involved in all three goals, he earned enough player performance marks to pocket FIVE bonus points, the maximum available from any one fixture.
CUNHA’S 22-POINT MASTERCLASS
- 1 goal (+6 pts)
- 2 assists (+6 pts)
- 5 bonus points (+5 pts)
- 3 shots on target (+3 pts)
- 89 minutes played (+2 pts)
We included the talented Brazilian in our transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 33, citing his fixture as a massive mismatch between two teams at the opposite ends of the form table.
And so it proved to be as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, already condemned to relegation, were outclassed by the hosts at Molineux with Cunha taking centre stage.
The problem is that so few Dream Team managers are willing to actively recruit the 25-year-old, no matter how frequently we talk up his considerable attributes.
Even now, in the wake of his season-best points haul, his ownership remains a modest 3.5%.
The exhaustive list of players more popular than Cunha includes Micky van de Ven (£2.9m), Murillo (£2.9m) and Kobbie Mainoo (£3m).
Granted, Cunha’s disciplinary record is a factor.
He recently missed four consecutive games through suspension but the truth is he has never been a truly popular selection in the world of Dream Team despite undeniable stats.
The former Atletico Madrid man has racked up 283 points at an average of 8.8 per game this season – only Mohamed Salah (£7m) and Erling Haaland (£7.8m) boast better averages.
That’s right, in a straight shootout of one fixture each, the numbers suggest Cunha is likely to outperform Alexander Isak (£5.7m), Bukayo Saka (£6.1m), Bruno Fernandes (£6.8m), Cole Palmer (£4.9m) and many more of the game’s most popular players.
The fact Wolves have not had European fixtures to bolster their schedule limits his viability but gaffers have not been shy in backing Bryan Mbeumo (£4.8m) in spite of Brentford’s comparatively relaxed workload.
So what will it take for Cunha to be recognised for his genius?
Unfortunately for Wolves fans, the answer to that question might be a transfer away from Molineux.
Cunha is expected to leave the club this summer with Manchester United supposedly his most ardent suitors.
It’s worth noting that Wolves leapfrogged the Red Devils in the Premier League table this weekend but a switch to one of world football’s most famous clubs will undoubtedly result in more attention on Cunha.
It might be that he goes from one of the most overlooked players in Dream Team to among the most selected.
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