Pep Guardiola says Matheus Nunes 'not clever enough' to play in midfield for Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has said Matheus Nunes is "not clever enough" to play in midfield for Manchester City, adding that the 26-year-old lacks the "composure" for the position. Following Kyle Walker's loan move to AC Milan in January, Nunes has been deployed at right-back on several occasions and Guardiola intends to develop him in that role rather than using him in his preferred midfield position.

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said Matheus Nunes is "not clever enough" to play in midfield and intends to continue deploying him at right-back. 
The Portugal international was signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £53 million in the summer of 2023 as a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan.
But after appearing several times in midfield during the last campaign, the 26-year-old has been regularly used at full-back this season following Kyle Walker's loan move to AC Milan
A return to midfield looks unlikely for Nunes, with his manager saying he lacks the "composure" for the role.
"He [Nunes] can become a good right-back for his physicality," Guardiola told reporters at Old Trafford following City's 0-0 draw with Manchester United
"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."
Discussing Nunes’ performance in the goalless Manchester derby on Sunday, Guardiola said: "The big mistake of full-backs is when you have the cross to the far post where you are, they are always sleeping.
"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."
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Despite Guardiola's praise for Nunes' defensive capabilities, he has been surprised by the midfielder's transition to full-back.
"When you start the season, if you said 'Matheus will play right-back' you would ask what I'm talking about," the City boss said.
"But it is what it is. The back four was excellent [against United]. Ruben [Dias] was incredible. So we build from that."
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