Pep Guardiola hints at position change for Man City star 'not clever enough' for current role | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has suggested Matheus Nunes could become Manchester City's new right-back amid concerns that the midfielder is "not clever enough" for a spot in his preferred position.

City spent £53m to sign Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2023, but he has found minutes in his natural role hard to come by. He has started just five Premier League games as a midfielder but, since filling in as an emergency right-back following Kyle Walker's departure in January, has started a further eight league matches.

Nunes also started five games as a left winger earlier this season, with Guardiola clearly reluctant to use the Brazil international as a midfielder.

It appears as though the position change is likely to become permanent for Nunes as Guardiola surprisingly insisted the 26-year-old is not cut out for a midfield role.

"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."

Nunes has been a regular starter in defence / Copa/GettyImages

Guardiola was keen to praise his newest full-back for his performance in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Manchester United.

"He is learning a lot," the City boss continued. "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 we 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."

City are expected to be on the hunt for a new midfielder this summer following confirmation that Kevin De Bruyne will depart at the end of the season when his contract expires. Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz has long been hailed as a potential target but the 21-year-old is expected to command a fee of well over £100m this summer.

Talks have since been opened with Eintracht Frankfurt over Sweden international Hugo Larsson, who dazzled alongside Omar Marmoush before the latter's January switch to City.