Pep Guardiola has suggested that Matheus Nunes will no longer play central midfield, stating that he’s ‘not clever enough’ for the role.
The Portuguese international has been playing as an emergency full-back since mid-December as a result of injuries and the high-profile departure of Kyle Walker to AC Milan.
Since then Nunes has made 11 appearances at right-back and made the position his own, keeping Rico Lewis out of the team.
This comes after making eight appearances as a left-winger earlier in the season.
With Kevin De Bruyne announcing that he’s leaving the club this summer it means that Guardiola will be looking to strengthen his engine-room options this summer.
But discussing Nunes following the 0-0 draw in the Manchester derby, Guardiola all-but ruled out that as an option.
“He can become a good right-back for the physicality he has,” said Guardiola.
“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 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.
“Akanji is coming back, and we have two young central defenders.
“But the last two or three games, the back four today again was excellent.
“Today Ruben was incredible. Josko as well. Nico, the last 20 minutes he was tired. It’s new for him but he played really, really good.
“We build from that.”
Nunes joined City from Wolves for a fee of £53million in the summer of 2023.
Since then he has made 62 appearances, scoring three goals in the process.
Man City’s next clash is against Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime – a fixture that is exclusively live on talkSPORT.
