Ipswich Town manager Gary O’Neil reflected on his former player Matheus Cunha ahead of the Tractor Boys’ upcoming Premier League fixture at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Sunday. O’Neil, who previously coached Cunha at Wolverhampton Wanderers, was instrumental in the forward’s recent £62.5 million transfer to Manchester United last summer.
Cunha, a Brazilian international and World Cup winner, has experienced a mixed start to the season with United following a 2-0 defeat against promoted Hull City, which came shortly after United’s opening day loss at Sunderland. O’Neil acknowledged Cunha’s technical abilities but noted that his development required significant tactical refinement during their time together at Wolverhampton. “He was unbelievably good technically but tactical stuff and what the team needed from him, I felt, needed a lot of work,” O’Neil said. He added that helping Cunha understand his role contributed to the player’s progression and subsequent high-profile move.
Despite their professional connection, O’Neil expressed a competitive desire to see his Ipswich side prevail over Cunha and Manchester United. “I’m desperate to beat him and send him a cheeky late-night Sunday text saying, ‘Unlucky, Matheus,’” he remarked, highlighting the playful rivalry ahead of the match.
The two also share a notable past incident dating back to December 2024, when Cunha clashed with an Ipswich security officer named Chris after a 2-1 Wolves victory at Molineux Stadium. The encounter, which involved Cunha removing the officer’s glasses, led to a two-match ban and an £80,000 fine for the forward. O’Neil, who was dismissed by Wolves the day following that incident, later spoke of a friendly reconciliation with Chris, who continues to work for Ipswich. “Chris has forgiven him—and me for allowing Cunha to do that to him! His glasses are fine, they might be new. We had a laugh about it when I arrived,” O’Neil said.
As Ipswich prepare for their clash with Manchester United, the club is close to securing a loan deal for Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham and recently completed the £19.3 million signing of Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen. O’Neil indicated that Palacios could feature in the upcoming game. “I’m sure you will see him on Sunday. He’s an incredible signing,” he said.
Ipswich come into the match following a season-opening victory over Sunderland, aiming to build momentum against a United side keen to recover from their early setbacks. The match at Old Trafford represents an important test for O’Neil’s squad and offers an intriguing narrative given the ties between the Ipswich manager and one of United’s star forwards.