Wolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed that they have completed the signing of Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha.
Ever since his arrival at Molineux last month, head coach Julen Lopetegui has made it clear that he wants to make changes to the first-team squad.
That is an opinion formed having taken over the bottom-placed club in the Premier League who have scored just eight goals from 15 matches.
In a bid to improve that record, Wolves registered an interest in Cunha earlier this month, aware that the Brazil international was available for transfer.
The 23-year-old made just two starts before the World Cup, with a further 14 appearances coming from the substitutes' bench, but Atletico are making changes due to their early elimination from the Champions League.
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With Cunha, Lopetegui and Atletico boss Diego Simeone all confirming the transfer earlier this week, Wolves moved on Christmas Day to make the deal official.
As reported, Cunha initially moves to the West Midlands on a loan deal until the end of the season, but a permanent transfer will be activated if the player fulfils a number of clauses.
Speaking to the club's official website, Cunha said: "I'm really excited to be part of this group and to be part of this club – it's a big club.
"I'm excited to play in the Premier League, to play in Wolverhampton, and I think the most important point is that I'm happy like a kid."
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On being attracted to working under Lopetegui, Cunha added: "I know him as we've played against each other three or four times, and he's a big coach, he has a big mentality.
"He told me about him joining Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton having a big project and I took to the project, I believe in it a lot, and I believe in him. I also believe in the players, and I believe in the club."
Cunha leaves Wanda Metropolitano having contributed seven goals and eight assists from his 54 appearances, but 43 of those outings came from the substitutes' bench.
The attacker cannot represent Wolves until the start of 2023, putting him in line to make his debut against Aston Villa on January 4.
Darren Plant
