Pep Guardiola says Matheus Nunes 'not clever enough' to play in midfield for Manchester City
Updated 07/04/2025 at 19:47 GMT+1
Pep Guardiola has said Matheus Nunes is "not clever enough" to play in midfield for Manchester City, adding that the 26-year-old lacks the "composure" for the position. Following Kyle Walker's loan move to AC Milan in January, Nunes has been deployed at right-back on several occasions and Guardiola intends to develop him in that role rather than using him in his preferred midfield position.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said Matheus Nunes is "not clever enough" to play in midfield and intends to continue deploying him at right-back.
The Portugal international was signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £53 million in the summer of 2023 as a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan.
But after appearing several times in midfield during the last campaign, the 26-year-old has been regularly used at full-back this season following Kyle Walker's loan move to AC Milan.
A return to midfield looks unlikely for Nunes, with his manager saying he lacks the "composure" for the role.
"He [Nunes] can become a good right-back for his physicality," Guardiola told reporters at Old Trafford following City's 0-0 draw with Manchester United.
"I think he's not a player to play in midfield because he's not clever enough, in the composure, but he has incredible skills and he's learning a lot."
Discussing Nunes’ performance in the goalless Manchester derby on Sunday, Guardiola said: "The big mistake of full-backs is when you have the cross to the far post where you are, they are always sleeping.
"But he defended really well two or three crosses, like when Bruno [Fernandes] put it to the far post for [Patrick] Dorgu.
"He has the attention and the physicality to do it, so he can play in that position and help us a lot."
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Despite Guardiola's praise for Nunes' defensive capabilities, he has been surprised by the midfielder's transition to full-back.
"When you start the season, if you said 'Matheus will play right-back' you would ask what I'm talking about," the City boss said.
"But it is what it is. The back four was excellent [against United]. Ruben [Dias] was incredible. So we build from that."
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