Pep Guardiola has claimed Matheus Nunes is ‘not clever enough’ to play in his midfield for Manchester City having pushed the £53million signing back into a full-back role.
City’s defensive options have been ravaged by injury for much of the season with John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji currently sidelined.
With Kyle Walker leaving the club to join AC Milan in January, Nunes has frequently slotted in on the right of defence this season, starting in his regular midfield role on just three occasions in the Premier League this season.
The Portugal international was deployed in that role again in Sunday’s derby against Manchester United, helping his side keep a clean sheet in a lifeless goalless draw at Old Trafford.
Guardiola sought out Nunes as he left the pitch after the full-time whistle but appeared to brutally rule out the possibility of him returning to his natural position any time soon.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
‘He can become a good right-back for the physicality’, Guardiola said.
‘I think he’s not a player to play in the middle because he’s not clever enough, in composure.’
He continued: ‘He has incredible skills and he’s learning a lot; full-backs always have a big mistake when a cross to the far-post where you are, always they’re sleeping.
‘And he defended really well two or three crosses from Bruno Fernandes, [Patrick] Dorgu. He has physicality to do it, he can play that position and he’s helped a lot.’
Nunes was recently targeted with criticism by Roy Keane, who took aim at the former Wolves star for showing ‘no football intelligence in the FA Cup victory over Bournemouth.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Again starting at right-back, Nunes’ poor ball out from the back was pounced upon, also failing to track his man as the Cherries scored the opener.
While City went onto progress to the next round after a second-half fight back.
‘This is a basic error, he has the option to go straight back there but it is always a risk going across the pitch,’ Keane said.
‘Really poor from City. Why is he risking that? It is a lack of football intelligence.’
Sunday’s draw saw City miss the chance to move back into fourth place after Chelsea dropped points earlier in the day against Brentford.
They return to action against Crystal Palace on Saturday.