Dardai prepared to use Cunha right away: "He's had a lot of offers, but also has a Hertha heart."
A whirlwind of transfer rumors notwithstanding, Hertha BSC trainer Pal Dardai believes Matheus Cunha has a place in his heart for his current club.
The recently returned Olympic Gold Medalist will be needed immediately as a banged-up capital city side prepare for their league opener against Köln in this weekend's Sunday capper.
The recently returned Olympic Gold Medalist will be needed immediately as a banged-up capital city side prepare for their league opener against Köln in this weekend's Sunday capper.
| Matheus Cunha. | Photo: GEPA Pictures/Roger Petzsche |
For now, the club at which he broke through during a prolific second half to the 2019/20 campaign needs him. With Jhon Cordoba sold, Krzysztof Piatek still injured, and Davie Selke/Daishawn Redan still constituting second and third choice options, Cunha my be called upon to work as the lead striker. He has done so before.
"Matheus has had a lot of offers, but he has a Hertha heart," Dardai told members of the assembled press at a Wednesday media round, "We can count on him this weekend. I'm very pleased that he came back [from the Olympics] on time. That means he wants to be here."
Whether or not Cunha truly wishes to remain in Charlottenburg isn't entirely certain. There have been some rumors that suggest he doesn't necessarily wish to leave merely for the sake of switching to a Champions' League club.
According to some sources, Atalanta Bergamo were willing to offer German left-back Robin Gosens for Cunha in a straight swap. Cunha is reported to have nixed the deal himself. Sporting CEO Bobic did complete one of his trademark swaps last week, shipping out Arne Maier to Augsburg in exchange for Marco Richter.
Dardai also had high praise for Richter during the media round, but suggested that he would integrate his new winger into the squad slowly. The same does not apply to Cunha, who will barely have time to get over his jet-lag.
"We can use his positive euphoria after winning the medal," Dardai also noted, "We can use that. He's a winner, top professional, and fit."