Matheus Cunha’s exit from Wolves was mooted as a possibility throughout the January transfer window but he remained at Molineux.
As many as six clubs wanted to sign Cunha during the window, including title-chasers Arsenal, though no bid was officially launched for the forward.
Instead, the Old Gold worked extremely hard to keep him at the club beyond January, with Cunha signing a new contract at Wolves.
One condition inserted into the deal was a £62.5m release clause, which interested parties reportedly don’t have to pay in full and can scatter the payments across the future months and years.
While that will worry Wolves fans ahead of the summer as several big clubs prepare to circle, the Brazilian has now explained why he committed his future to the club.
Matheus Cunha never thought about leaving Wolves in January
Cunha, who has 13 goals in all competitions this term, never once thought about leaving Wolves in January as he respects the Premier League side for giving him a chance.
The 25-year-old has revealed that Wolves ‘opened the door’, initially on loan, when they signed him from Atletico Madrid just weeks after he missed out on Brazil’s 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar.
“I never think about leaving, honestly. I know I have a lot of things to do already and I always said that this was the club that gave me the chance to come back,” Cunha said via BBC Sport.
“They opened the door for me and I always felt I wanted to give back everything so to leave in this type of situation is hard.
“I am so happy to be here. I hope to continue doing good things.”
This isn’t the first time he’s outlined his delight to remain at Molineux, as after signing his new contract, Cunha said he was ‘happy’ at Wolves earlier this month.
While those words are encouraging to hear, supporters are wise enough to know that he’s only giving them false hope and a move to a bigger club awaits.
Jermain Defoe’s praise for Cunha
There is an inevitability that Cunha will leave Wolves during the summer, perhaps becoming their most expensive sale after Pedro Neto’s £54m move to Chelsea.
But according to Jermain Defoe, Wolves keeping Cunha was their biggest signing in the winter, despite adding Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Agbadou and Marshall Munetsi to the squad.
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“I think he signed a four-and-a-half year contract – probably the best business that they’ve done,” Defoe told Sky Sports.
“I think their last 13 goals, he’s been involved in nine of those, in games they’ve won. So he makes the difference.
“Even some of the goals he’s scored. His body language, he’s a leader, he’s confident. He wants to be the best player on the pitch. Efficient in front of goal when he gets his chances. But his all-round game – he’s a top, top player.”
It’s hard to disagree with Defoe’s comments, who was a top Premier League striker himself, as selling Cunha would have no doubt led to relegation.
However, with their talisman still at the club, Wolves have a 17.5% chance of relegation, according to Opta, predicting the Old Gold to finish above Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton.