The athlete signs permanently until 2028, arrives as an option for the celestial team and reunites with coach Tite in Belo Horizonte
Photo: Esporte News Mundo
Cruzeiro formalized, this Thursday (1), the signing of goalkeeper Matheus Cunha, 24, who played for Flamengo.
The player signed a permanent contract with Raposa until December 2028 and becomes the second reinforcement confirmed by the Minas Gerais club for the 2026 season, after the arrival of Colombian striker Néiser Villarreal.
WELCOME, 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐔𝐍𝐇𝐀! The goalkeeper, who was at Flamengo, has signed permanently with Cruzeiro until the end of 2028!
Leave your welcome message to Matheus Cunha, Nação Azul! pic.twitter.com/Cd1lqfOahO
– Cruzeiro (@Cruzeiro) January 1, 2026
The deal was already in the works since mid-2025. In July, Matheus Cunha signed a pre-contract with Cruzeiro after choosing not to renew his contract with Flamengo, which expired at the end of the year.
As a result, the official announcement was only made at the turn of the season, when the goalkeeper was free on the market. The negotiation had the approval of Tite, the new celestial coach, with whom the athlete worked at Rubro-Negro.
Excited by this new challenge, Matheus Cunha spoke directly to Cruzeiro supporters through the club’s official television. “Speak, Blue Nation! I am very happy to be here. You can expect a lot of loyalty, respect and commitment with this shirt. May we write a beautiful story and be very happy“, said the guard.
Initially, Matheus Cunha arrives at Cruzeiro to compete for a position and be an option in the team, with Cássio as the team’s starter. With this signing, the club also announced the departure of Léo Aragão, who is expected to play for Avaí on loan. In addition to them, the young Otávio and Marcelo Eraclito complete the group of goalkeepers available to the technical commission.
Revealed in the youth categories of São Paulo, Matheus Cunha was transferred at a very young age to Flamengo, in a negotiation approved by Rogério Ceni. At the Rio club, he joined the professional squad from 2021 and gained more space in 2023, where he played 36 matches. In total, between 2021 and 2025, there have been 55 matches with the red and black jersey. In 2025, he played five matches, with five wins and only two goals conceded.
Although he was a starter at times, the goalkeeper lost space with the arrival of Argentinian Agustín Rossi and became a starter, notably during Tite’s time at Flamengo.
He nevertheless participated in champion teams and aroused interest in European football. In August 2023, Flamengo turned down a proposal from Nottingham Forest of England worth between 8 and 10 million euros.
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