Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola said Matheus Nunes “can become a good right-back,” but is “not clever enough” to play in midfield.
Nunes has played at right-back in each of City’s last three matches, a position he has played often since Kyle Walker’s departure to AC Milan on loan in January.
Guardiola said the Portugal international’s “physicality” lends well to playing at full-back, but added the 26-year-old lacks the “composure” to play in midfield.
“He can become a good right-back for the physicality he has,” said Guardiola, per Manchester City’s official website. “The thing is not to play in the middle because he’s not clever enough with the composure.
“He is learning a lot. The full-backs make a mistake when they cross for the far post and they are sleeping.
“But he defended two or three crosses that Bruno Fernandes put into the far post for (Patrick) Dorgu. He has the physicality to do it. He can play there, and he helped us a lot.
“When he started the season if you said we play Matheus at right-back and Nico O’Reilly at left-back, I would say what are you talking about? But the season is what it is.”
Nunes joined City from Wolves for €62million (£53.2m, $67.6m) in September 2023, where he had predominantly featured in midfield. He also regularly played in central midfield for Sporting, making 101 appearances for the Portuguese club before his move to Molineux in August 2022.
City’s 0-0 draw with rivals Manchester United on Sunday saw Guardiola’s side remain fifth in the Premier League table, two points ahead of seventh-placed Newcastle, who have two games in hand.
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