Guardiola: Nunes 'not clever enough' to play midfield

Pep Guardiola believes Matheus Nunes' future is at right-back for Manchester City after deciding the 26-year-old lacks the intelligence and composure required to play midfield.

Nunes' reputation blossomed while starring in Wolverhampton Wanderers' midfield during the 2022-23 campaign. Manchester City bought Nunes for around £53 million a few matches into the following season. However, the unconvincing displays from the Brazil-born Portuguese international and other players, a rash of injuries, and Kyle Walker's January departure forced City manager Guardiola to rethink the player's role.

"(Nunes) can become a good right-back for his physicality," Guardiola said after Sunday's match at Manchester United, according to ESPN's Mark Ogden. "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."

Nunes has played at right-back for each of his 11 starts since mid-January, including the goalless Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

"The big mistake of full-backs is when you have the cross to the far post where you are, they are always sleeping," Guardiola said. "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."

Guardiola admitted he was surprised by Nunes' performance as a full-back, given there was little indication earlier in the campaign that would be his role.

"When you start the season, if you said, 'Matheus will play right-back,' you would ask what I'm talking about," Guardiola added. "But it is what it is."

City's defense against Manchester United featured Nunes, Josko Gvardiol, and Ruben Dias as the center-backs and Nico O'Reilly - a versatile yet predominantly attack-minded midfielder - acting as the other full-back. Rico Lewis, who often operates as an inverted right-back, replaced O'Reilly at left-back in the 74th minute.

"The back-four was excellent. Ruben was incredible. So we build from that," Guardiola said.