​Matheus Cunha’s trajectory at Cruzeiro took a sharp turn in a span of just six months. The club’s goalkeeper, who had signed a pre-contract in 2025 with the long-term aim of bridging the transition toward Cássio’s retirement (currently 39), failed to secure a lasting place in Artur Jorge’s plans and has since fallen out of the coach’s favored group, according to ge. To fill the vacancy, Cruzeiro’s board has already called for the return of Léo Aragão, who had been out on loan and had been a starter for Avaí in Série B, further pushing Cunha down the pecking order among Cruzeiro’s goalkeepers.
From the outset, Cunha’s stay in Belo Horizonte was marred by misfortune. In the opening week of preseason, he sustained a knee injury that sidelined him from the early rounds of the Campeonato Mineiro, creating space for then-third-choice keeper Otávio. Cunha’s big break arrived in March, when Cássio suffered a serious injury. The board chose not to pursue external reinforcements and placed their faith in the club’s No. 1. He went on to start nine consecutive Brasileirão matches. Despite the initial backing from coach Artur Jorge, Cunha’s performances failed to convince, and he eventually lost his place for good to the youthful Otávio, who capitalized on the opportunity with solid showings and contributed to the club’s decision not to bring in another goalkeeper.
Looking ahead, the future of Cruzeiro’s goalkeeping setup appears to be evolving. After the World Cup break, the club decided that Cunha’s best path was to seek a fresh start elsewhere, given that his contract runs through the end of 2028. He was not included in the squad for Cruzeiro’s recent friendly against Defensor, with Vitor Lamounier from the under-20s taking part in the second half. The current goalkeeping hierarchy at Cruzeiro features Otávio and Léo Aragão competing directly, alongside Marcelo Eráclito and Lamounier, who is being promoted from the academy. Cássio continues to recover well following knee surgery and is anticipated to return in the second half of August.