Pep Guardiola wants Matheus nunes develop on the right back Manchester City After saying that “he is not smart enough” to play the role of the middle field he has done during his career.
26 -year -old man who signed a city from Wolves In August 2023 VA Agreement 53 million GBP ($ 70 million) As a replacement for Ilkay Gündoganperformed 62 performances under the ruling Premier League Champions from arrival to Etihad, with most of its trips in the middle of the field.
But with the Guardiola he is still looking for a reliable replacement in the right accompaniment for Kyle Walkerwho left the city in the loan to move AC Milan In January, Portugal The Nunes midfielder was deployed on a full back.
After Nunes played on the right back on Sunday 0-0 Draw against Manchester United In Old Trafford, Guardiola, he made a surprising claim that the shortcomings of the player in the middle of the field mean that he is now facing the future as a defender.
“He (Nunes) can become a good right back for his physicality,” Guardiola told reporters in Old Trafford. “I think he’s not a player playing in the middle of the field because he’s not smart enough, calm, but he has incredible skills and learns a lot.
“A big mistake Full-Backs is when you have a cross to a distant post where you are, always sleeping.
“But he really prevented two or three crosses, like Bruno (Fernandes) put a distant contribution for (Patrick) Dorg.
“He has attention and physicality to do it to play in this position and help us a lot.”
The city signed the defender Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor reis During the January transfer, but Nunes began in the last weeks before.
Although Guardiola was impressed with his defensive abilities, he admits that he is surprised that the player has made a transition from midfielder to full-back.
“If you start the season, if you said” Matheus will play right back, “you would ask what I’m talking about,” Guardiola said.
“But that’s what it is. The rear four were excellent (against United). Ruben (dias) was incredible. So we build it.”
