Wolves went five points clear of the relegation zone on Saturday courtesy of another big contribution from Matheus Cunha.
Wolves defeated Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium, in what was a huge result for Vitor Pereira on the south coast.
There was a big moment in the game in the first-half when Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi received a red card for a dangerous challenge on Rayan Ait-Nouri.
The Premier League explained why Zabarnyi was sent off, saying it deemed ‘the contact on Aït-Nouri to be high on the shin and dangerous’ and that it was serious foul play.
The Ukrainian was initially booked, but a VAR intervention saw him dismissed.
Wolves would then take the lead moments later through Matheus Cunha, who finished really well after the ball fell to him in the box from a Nelson Semedo cross.
That was Cunha’s 13th Premier League goal of the season, and fourth in Wolves’ last four games.
The Brazilian really is in fine fettle at the moment, and is showing at every turn why it was so important for him to sign that new contract.
Cunha did admit he never considered leaving Wolves mid-season, but certainly, there were some real worries at one point.
After he scored, Michael Owen took to social media to drop a verdict that many Wolves fans probably won’t appreciate too much.
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Michael Owen says ‘every top team’ should be triggering Matheus Cunha’s release clause
Wolves are now five points clear of the relegation zone and Cunha has certainly played his part in the club now enjoying a bit of daylight.
The former Atletico Madrid star is delivering consistently again, and his performances are bound to be attracting attention.
Cunha has a new release clause in the contract he signed recently, which is thought to be around £62.5 million.
For legendary former Premier League striker Michael Owen, that release clause should be of interest to all top clubs this summer.
He said on X yesterday: “Cunha is right up there with the very best players in the Premier League. Sorry Wolves fans but virtually every top team should be triggering his buyout clause this summer.”
Wolves keeping Cunha for 2025/26 feels almost impossible
Fans likely won’t appreciate these comments from Owen for the simple fact that supporters just don’t want Cunha to leave the club.
He is one of the most talented players in the club’s recent history and can produce moments of magic, which is a rare trait to have.
Realistically, Wolves are going to really struggle to keep Cunha beyond the summer.
| Matheus Cunha in 2024/25 for Wolves |
| Appearances – 27 |
| Minutes played – 2166 |
| Goals – 14 |
| Assists – 4 |
That £62.5 million release clause is extremely reasonable for a player of his quality, and surely there are a number of teams out there who wouldn’t hesitate to trigger it.
Cunha would of course have to green-light an exit from Wolves. But as much as he does love the club, he knows he has the ability to be playing in the Champions League.
It would truly be a shock if the Brazilian was still leading Wolves’ attack for the 2025/26 season.