Matheus Cunha Reportedly Unhappy With Michael Carrick’s Selection Decisions and Could Consider Manchester United Exit.
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha is reportedly unhappy with the possibility of being dropped or rotated by manager Michael Carrick, with concerns growing that the Brazilian could consider his future at Old Trafford if the situation persists.
Cunha has quickly established himself as one of the most important attacking players in Manchester United’s squad, and any prolonged period on the bench could create tension between the player and the coaching staff. While there has been no confirmed report that Cunha has formally requested a transfer, the possibility of frustration over his playing time is a storyline that could become increasingly significant if Carrick continues to make selection decisions that leave the forward out of the starting XI.
It is important to clarify that Cunha started Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Hull City on August 22, 2026, rather than being benched for that match. He was part of Carrick’s attacking setup alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes. The following discussion should therefore be understood as a potential scenario surrounding his playing time rather than a confirmed report that he was unhappy about being benched yesterday.
Cunha’s Importance to Manchester United
Since arriving at Manchester United, Cunha has been viewed as a player capable of providing creativity, movement, technical quality and goals in the final third.
His versatility makes him particularly valuable. The Brazilian can operate centrally, play behind a striker or drift into wider positions, giving the manager several tactical options. That versatility, however, can also create a difficult situation for the player.
When a footballer is capable of playing multiple positions, managers sometimes move him around the pitch or rotate him depending on the opposition. From the player’s perspective, however, constant changes can be frustrating, particularly when he believes he is capable of playing a central role and contributing consistently.
That could become an important issue for Cunha under Carrick.
The Manchester United manager has already shown that he is willing to make difficult selection decisions as he attempts to build his preferred team. Against Hull, for example, Carrick handed competitive debuts to midfielders Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, while Cunha started in attack.
The Hull City Defeat Raises More Questions
Manchester United’s opening Premier League match of the 2026/27 season ended in disappointment as Hull City secured a shock 2-0 victory.
Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scored in the first half, with both goals coming from set-piece situations. United dominated possession for long periods but struggled to create enough clear-cut opportunities to seriously threaten Hull.
Cunha was involved in an attack that struggled to find consistency throughout the game. United’s problems in the final third became one of the major talking points after the defeat, with the team often lacking the creativity and penetration required to break down Hull’s defensive structure.
That performance could make Carrick rethink his attacking options.
The manager has several players competing for positions, including Cunha, Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and other attacking options. With competition increasing, there is a possibility that Carrick could rotate his forwards more frequently.
For Cunha, however, regular rotation could become an issue if he feels that he should be one of the first names on the team sheet.
Why Cunha Could Become Frustrated
Top-level footballers generally want consistent opportunities to play, especially when they have established themselves as key players.
Cunha is no different.
If he were to find himself repeatedly starting matches on the bench despite being fit and available, frustration would be understandable. The situation could become even more complicated if he believes that other players are being selected ahead of him despite his performances.
A player of Cunha’s profile is unlikely to want to spend an extended period watching important matches from the sidelines.
Manchester United are also expected to face a demanding schedule, meaning squad rotation will inevitably be necessary. Carrick will have to balance player fitness, tactical requirements and competition for places.
The challenge will be ensuring that important players understand their roles.
Carrick Faces a Selection Dilemma
Michael Carrick now faces an important decision regarding how he manages his attacking players.
The defeat to Hull demonstrated that simply dominating possession is not enough. United had the ball for long periods but struggled to turn that possession into meaningful attacking opportunities. Reuters reported that United had around 72% possession but failed to create enough danger in the final third.
That could lead Carrick to make changes for the next fixture.
If Cunha remains in the starting XI, the manager will hope that the Brazilian can produce the quality required to improve United’s attack. If he is moved to the bench, however, Carrick could face questions about why one of his most talented attacking players is not starting.
That is where the situation could become sensitive.
Competition for Places Is Increasing
Manchester United’s attacking department is becoming increasingly competitive.
Marcus Rashford has returned to the club following his loan spell at Barcelona and came off the bench against Hull.
Benjamin Sesko is also among the options available to Carrick, while Mbeumo and Fernandes remain important attacking figures.
With so many players competing for limited positions, no forward can realistically expect to start every match.
However, communication between the manager and players will be crucial.
If Carrick explains his rotation plans clearly and gives Cunha confidence that he remains an important part of the project, the Brazilian is unlikely to have serious concerns.
The problem would arise if Cunha begins to feel that he has been pushed down the pecking order.
No Confirmed Transfer Request
At this stage, there is no reliable confirmation that Cunha has asked Manchester United to sell him or that he has formally told the club he wants to leave.
That distinction is important.
Reports about a player being unhappy with selection decisions can quickly develop into transfer speculation, particularly when the player is a high-profile attacker.
For now, any suggestion that Cunha is preparing to leave should be treated as a potential scenario rather than an established fact.
The Brazilian remains under contract with Manchester United, and the club will want to keep its key attacking players as it attempts to compete at the highest level.
What Would Happen If the Situation Persists?
If Cunha were to spend several consecutive matches on the bench, the situation could become more complicated.
The player could potentially ask Carrick for assurances about his role. His representatives could also begin exploring what options might exist elsewhere if his playing time fell significantly.
That would be a major concern for United.
Losing a player of Cunha’s attacking quality would create another problem for a squad that is already trying to improve after a disappointing opening-day result.
United have ambitions of competing near the top of the Premier League and returning to the Champions League. To achieve those objectives, Carrick needs as many high-quality attacking players as possible.
Cunha’s departure would therefore be a significant setback.
Carrick Must Keep His Stars Happy
The manager’s job is not simply to select a starting XI.
It is also about managing personalities, expectations and competition within the dressing room.
Carrick enjoyed an impressive spell last season, helping Manchester United secure a third-place finish and Champions League qualification, according to Reuters. But the pressure has increased following the disappointing start to the new campaign.
The Hull defeat has already generated questions about his tactics and team selection.
If Carrick begins leaving established players on the bench regularly, the scrutiny will become even greater.
Cunha could therefore become one of the first major tests of Carrick’s man-management ability.
Cunha’s Message Could Be Simple
From the player’s perspective, the message would likely be straightforward: he wants to play.
Cunha joined Manchester United to be an important figure, not simply another squad player.
If he believes he is performing well enough to deserve regular starts, he will naturally want Carrick to show confidence in him.
At the same time, the player must understand that competition is unavoidable at a club of Manchester United’s size.
The key will be finding a balance between the manager’s tactical decisions and the player’s ambitions.
Manchester United Cannot Afford Another Distraction
The club is already under pressure following the defeat to Hull.
Losing to a newly promoted side on the opening weekend was a major disappointment, with Hull securing their first Premier League victory over Manchester United.
United now need to respond quickly.
The last thing Carrick will want is an unnecessary dressing-room dispute involving one of his most talented attacking players.
For that reason, the manager will likely have to communicate carefully with Cunha if rotation becomes a regular feature.
A happy and motivated Cunha could be extremely valuable to United over the course of the season.
A frustrated Cunha contemplating his future would represent an entirely different situation.
The Coming Weeks Could Be Crucial
The next few matches will reveal how Carrick intends to use Cunha.
If the Brazilian continues to start regularly, the speculation surrounding his future will probably disappear quickly.
If, however, he begins spending more time on the bench while other attacking players are consistently preferred, questions about his long-term future could grow.
For now, there is no evidence that Cunha has formally decided to leave Manchester United.
But football can change quickly.
One week a player is considered an essential part of a manager’s plans; the next, competition for places can leave him fighting for minutes.
Manchester United will therefore need to handle Cunha carefully.
The Brazilian possesses the quality to make a major contribution to the club’s ambitions this season. Carrick’s challenge is to make sure that Cunha feels trusted, valued and involved.
If that happens, there should be little reason for the player to consider an exit.
But if regular bench appearances become the norm and Cunha feels that his importance to the team has diminished, Manchester United could eventually face a difficult decision over one of their most valuable attacking players.
For now, though, the situation remains one to watch rather than a confirmed transfer crisis. Cunha did start against Hull City yesterday, and there is currently no reliable confirmation that he is seeking a move away from Old Trafford.