Matheus Nunes admits relishing full-back role at Man City after initial stubbornness | OneFootball

Nunes is now a regular at right-back (Image: Gettyimages)

Portugal international Matheus Nunes says he needed convincing to embrace his new position of right-back with Manchester City, but has come to appreciate the benefits of the change.

Nunes was signed by City from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023 in a deal worth €60m, which followed Pep Guardiola labelling the Seleção man one of the best midfielders in Europe. However, Nunes struggled to convince Guardiola in the role across his first season at the club, leading to some harsh words from the Spanish manager.

“He (Nunes) can become a good right-back for his physicality,” Guardiola said in April. “I think he’s not a player to play in midfield because he’s not clever enough, in the composure. He has incredible skills and he’s learning a lot.”

Since then, right-back has become Nunes’ regular position and the former Sporting man has impressed this term, starting 12 of City’s 16 games in the Premier League, while notching three assists. Speaking to DAZN this week, Nunes admits he did not embrace the idea initially, but has experienced a change of heart recently.

“When I started playing as a full-back – after a season and a half as a midfielder and wide player - I thought: ‘It doesn’t bring me stability, I always have to be working on different things.’ In other words, at the beginning I was stubborn,” Nunes said.

“After listening to many people and talking to my psychologist, I realised that this will only make me a better player, it only brings more nuances to my game. So I get more playing time.

"If [Pep Guardiola] puts me as a striker, then I'll try to score more goals than the others. That's my objective now.”

By Sean Gillen