'When I arrived home, I cried' - Matheus Cunha took mental health break for 'depression' after missing out on Brazil's World Cup squad

Cunha revealed to BBC Football Focus that not going to the tournament in Qatar hit him hard, admitting he had to step away after entering what he called a period of "depression" over it. He had made his senior Brazil debut the year before but was overlooked.

At the time of the snub, Cunha was struggling for form at Atletico Madrid, having failed to live up to a vast transfer fee following a 2021 move from Hertha BSC. He didn't play for Atletico again once the World Cup break set in, joining Wolves on loan in early January 2023. That became a permanent switch a few months later and Cunha is now one of the top forwards in the Premier League.

"It was the first big break for my [mental] health in my career," Cunha explained. "To be Brazilian and then think about the World Cup, it's everything for us, you know. If you conquer this chance to play, [you will] make everyone more proud than normal. When you are not there, you feel like I did everything for nothing. It was a bit like a depression. When I arrived home, I cried and then I passed all my emotions to the people who really care about me."

Cunha was the subject of January interest from Nottingham Forest and is likely to be courted by clubs again when the summer transfer window opens at the end of the season, with a new Wolves contract featuring an affordable release clause. He has been linked with Arsenal regularly and an approach from the Gunners would make sense, given the 25-year-old's proven track record in the Premier League and their lack of depth in forward roles.