Pep Guardiola’s controversial dig at Matheus Nunes rubbished by Portuguese legend | OneFootball

Portuguese football legend Rui Costa has launched a strong defence of his compatriot Matheus Nunes after Pep Guardiola’s recent controversial remarks over the Manchester City’s man competence to play in midfield.

Nunes has endured a mixed bag of a season in his second year in Manchester, operating largely at right-back in a stop-start campaign for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, who are fighting to quality for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The 26-year-old has seen criticism come his way for a few high-profile errors that have cost City at crucial points of the season, but the Portugal international has cracked on undeterred in the face of adversity to play whatever role has been asked of him by his manager this term.

In the absence of Kyle Walker – who left for AC Milan on loan in January – Nunes has shared the workload at right back with the likes of Abdukodir Khusanov and Rico Lewis – ahead of a summer transfer window wherein City are expected to sign at least one new full-back.

Nunes sent a strong message to his critics by popping up with a crucial winner in midweek, scoring an injury-time winner against Aston Villa to give Manchester City a monumental boost in their pursuit of a top-five Premier League finish.

The former Wolves man went on strike to force a move to the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2023 and despite having come under criticism for some mistakes from time to time, he has set the record right with a strong array of displays in the second half of the ongoing season.

However, Pep Guardiola doesn’t hold back in his press conferences and is known for subtly letting a player know where they rank in his pecking order and dropping tangible hints in the business end of a season as players assess their future(s) ahead of the summer transfer window.

Speaking in a recent press conference, Guardiola was pressed on his ignorance with regards to Nunes and why the 54-year-old refuses to give Nunes a fair run of games in his natural, preferred midfield position, having signed the 26-year-old for £53 million 18 months ago.

“He (Nunes) can become a good right-back for his physicality. 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,” Guardiola said after a goalless Manchester derby at Old Trafford to cause a stir and debate amongst Manchester City fans online.

It remains to be seen whether Nunes will accept a reduced role at right-back and stay on with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola into the 2025-26 season, with reports having linked him with a move away from the Etihad Stadium in recent months.

However, Portuguese football legend Rui Costa has hit back at Guardiola’s criticism of Nunes, whom Costa worked with in a coaching capacity at Grupo Desportivo Estoril Praia in Lisbon. “When Guardiola signed Matheus Nunes from Wolves and when he played him and praised him, it was always as a talented midfielder and never as a defender,” Costa told Sun Sport.

“I characterise him (Nunes) as a physically strong player, a box-to-box player, with very high levels of quality and passing accuracy. He’s a midfielder who can score and helps his teams a lot defensively.

“Adapted to right-back, in my way of seeing the game, he (Nunes) fulfils but it’s not his natural habitat. He might be lacking a bit of confidence after the coach’s statements about him. He’s a clever player. He’s quick to think, move and execute.

“He (Nunes) will develop into a right-back because Guardiola is a coach who will help him. But he needs to feel more confident before he can develop. He’s a player any manager would like to have. He’s humble, a real warrior, very hard-working and never turns his back on a battle. Whatever position, he’ll continue to shine. I wish him all the best.”