September 9: £62.5m New Signing Scores Zero in Three Matches as Centre-Forward, Carrick's Possession System Restricts Cunha

After the first three Premier League rounds of the new season, Manchester United have collected only seven points, and Cunha at centre-forward has become the most watched high-paid mystery in the league. Nobody expected that when United signed the Brazilian forward from Wolves for £62.5 million last summer, the move would be considered a deal that could fix the team's attacking weakness, but after only three matches this season, the expensive Brazilian forward has become the most awkward player on the pitch.

In the opening away match against promoted side Hull City, the Manchester Evening News gave him a 3 rating, the lowest score of the match. Playing as the number nine, he looked like a guest who could not find his home, unable to hold off opposing centre-backs with his back to goal, unable to win the first ball in the box, and unable to provide even the most basic support role. After the match, fans shared his highlights from the end of last season on social media and could not believe that the player struggling to stay in the box was the same Cunha who could carry the ball and tear through entire defensive lines.

In the second match at home against Ipswich, everyone expected him to wake up. In the 40th minute, he pressed high and took the ball from a fallen opposing defensive midfielder before delivering a precise through ball to help B. Fernandes equalise. In the 61st minute, he won a penalty after receiving the ball in the box. During those 20 minutes, he looked completely like last season's player. However, during the remaining 70 minutes, he repeatedly dropped into midfield to receive the ball, leaving the empty spaces in the box for teammates arriving late. United eventually completed a 5-2 comeback win, but it was clear that there was still an entire penalty area between him and the number-nine role Carrick wanted.

By the third round away against Everton, the awkwardness became a disaster on the pitch. He played 70 minutes, had only 42 touches, lost possession 11 times, missed both shots, and recorded zero in both dribbles and key passes. Until he was replaced by Sesko, his shirt had barely picked up any grass stains. In contrast, the Slovenian striker who came on scored a header in only 19 minutes to give United the lead again, and at that moment scattered boos had already emerged from the Old Trafford stands.

Cunha has never been a player who cannot play football. When he first joined United last season, he failed to score in his first seven matches and faced even greater criticism than now. But he endured the difficult period, opened his scoring account from his tenth appearance, and directly contributed to 14 goals across the season. Especially in the late-season derby that decided Champions League qualification, he scored in the sixth minute after winning the second ball and deflecting a shot, becoming United's fastest home goal against Liverpool in nearly 23 years. He later scored the winner at Stamford Bridge after receiving B. Fernandes' assist, taking a 1-0 victory and helping United secure third place. At that time, Rooney praised his effort from the commentary booth, Hargreaves listed him alongside Mbeumo and B. Fernandes as United's most reliable attacking trio, and even Gary Neville said on his podcast that no defender would want to face a charging Cunha directly.

The root of the problem has never been his ability, but rather Carrick's suddenly changed tactical system this year.

At the start of the new season, Carrick transformed the team into a high-possession system. United's possession rates in the first two rounds reached 71% and 60% respectively, with the team spending long periods attacking in the opponent's half. In this situation, the first requirement of the number nine became holding off centre-backs in the box, acting as a focal point, winning second balls, pinning the defensive line inside the penalty area, and creating space for teammates arriving from deep. This is exactly what Cunha is least comfortable doing.

His physical duel efficiency has never been among the best. The habit he developed at Wolves was to turn and carry the ball toward midfield after receiving possession rather than attacking the box. As a result, when he drops deeper, Rashford and Mbeumo also move toward the middle, with the three forming a line outside the penalty area. United's main attacking threats inside the box then become defenders and midfielders such as Tielemans and Dalot.

Among Premier League attacking signings costing more than £50 million over the past five years, there have been many examples of players failing to establish themselves after going scoreless in the opening three matches. Hojlund joined for £65 million and scored 26 goals in 95 appearances before eventually leaving on loan with a mandatory purchase clause attached. Nunez scored 40 goals in 143 matches for Liverpool after arriving for £74 million and moved to the Saudi league two years ago. Grealish joined Manchester City for £100 million and won a treble, but later saw his appearances and statistics decline sharply and also left the Etihad on loan last year.

However, the problems of those players are completely different from Cunha's. Hojlund's issue was limited technical ability, Nunez's was finishing efficiency, and Grealish's form was affected by repeated injuries and off-field factors. Cunha, meanwhile, remains among the top two percent of Premier League forwards for shooting actions created per 90 minutes, progressive passes and progressive carries. Last season, among players with more than 2,000 metres of ball-carrying distance, his average progression distance ranked third in the Premier League, and his goals from outside the box were tied for first among the top five European leagues. These statistics show clearly that he lacks neither ability nor quality; his current position has simply locked away his strongest skills.

The choice facing Carrick is now clear: either continue forcing Cunha to learn the focal-point role as a number nine and wait for him to adapt to an unfamiliar style, or quickly adjust the tactics, return him to his familiar left-sided channel, form a dual-core attack with B. Fernandes, and let Sesko occupy the box as the traditional focal point.

The current Manchester United are no longer the team from last season that relied on counterattacks to steal points. With upcoming matches against strong sides such as Arsenal and Manchester City, if Cunha continues to struggle awkwardly as a centre-forward, not only could his market value be severely reduced, but United's hard-earned attacking system could also fall into paralysis.

After all, the £60 million signing was never meant to be a traditional target man who simply battles in the box. It was an attacking core who can run, pass and shoot, and turn impossible situations into goals during chaotic moments. Forcing him into a position where he cannot use his strengths and wasting his talent is the biggest loss for this Manchester United side right now.