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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been looking for ways to protect Nico Gonzalez amid other injuries in midfield
There can be few players in the Pep Guardiola era who have had as wild a journey as Matheus Nunes. Signed late in the 2023 transfer window after attempts to sign Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta had not been followed through, the former Wolves star looked to be heading the way of Kalvin Phillips as he was quickly discarded as a midfield option.
Guardiola preferred to use Nunes on the right wing, where there wasn't as much defensive discipline and control needed to run the game, as he settled into the team. More often than not though, Guardiola would prefer others and after three starts in his opening five games it would take three months before his next three came.
Last season, Nunes emerged as an unlikely option on the left wing in the first half of the season and was one of City's better players there in the opening months. His height and pace made it difficult for defenders to cope with him and he could stand up a ball for Erling Haaland to knock in.
Then came the move to left-back for the Manchester derby, which was going fine until it all went so horribly wrong and Nunes disappeared for a few more weeks. When he returned, right-back was the new position as Guardiola chose to take Rico Lewis out of the limelight after he had been run into the ground.
With time, Nunes began to impress at right-back. He still made some basic errors that undermined his game and hurt the team, but those were gradually eked out and the positives shone through; a last-minute winner at home to Villa was the highlight as he helped City to secure Champions League football for this season.
Even then, Guardiola spoke about Nunes not having what was required to play in midfield. The holding role was one the Portugal international had played at times at Sporting, yet he wasn't trusted in the Premier League.
This year has been all about right-back again, and Nunes has looked better than ever in the position. Guardiola has said that the 27-year-old can be one of the best in his position if he really commits and believes in himself.
Recently though, there have been flickers of life for Nunes in midfield again. With Nico Gonzalez absolutely shattered, and Mateo Kovacic and Rodri still injured, it has been Nunes that the manager has used in the last part of games to see them out. Interestingly, it was a position that was earmarked for Nico O'Reilly this season before he reverted to left-back.
In the long term, at least one new midfielder looks like a necessity in the summer and Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are the standout names for a pick that can fill a position for years. In the meantime though, with a move for a midfielder in January unlikely, Nunes could be asked to do more midfield work to help share the load with Gonzalez while others remain injured.
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