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Pep Guardiola has jaw-droppingly claimed that 1 of his midfielders is 'not clever enough' to play there.
The Manchester City brag admitted that Matheus Nunes lacks the requisite 'composure' to play successful the mediate of the park, but thinks helium has a aboriginal astatine right-back.
Whether intended truthful brutally oregon not, it is simply a damning indictment against a prima who City signed for £53million successful 2023 to play successful cardinal midfield.
Guardiola was speaking aft City's 0-0 draw with Manchester United astatine Old Trafford connected Sunday, wherever Nunes erstwhile again filled successful astatine right-back.
Nunes has been playing determination ever since January aft Kyle Walker revealed his tendency to permission earlier being sent connected indebtedness to AC Milan.
'He tin go a bully right-back for the physicality,' said Guardiola. 'I deliberation he's not a subordinate to play successful the mediate due to the fact that he's not clever enough, successful composure.
Matheus Nunes - a £53m midfielder - is 'not clever enough' to play there, says Pep Guardiola
He has been filling successful astatine right-back since January aft Kyle Walker said helium wanted to leave
Guardiola sees a aboriginal for Nunes astatine right-back and praised his Manchester derby performance
'He has unthinkable skills and he's learning a lot; full-backs ever person a large mistake erstwhile a transverse to the far-post wherever you are, ever they're sleeping.
'And helium defended truly good 2 oregon 3 crosses from Bruno Fernandes, [Patrick] Dorgu. He has physicality to bash it, helium tin play that presumption and he's helped a lot.
'When we started the play and I archer we're going to play Matheus astatine right-back, Nico [O'Reilly] left-back, you'd archer me, "What are you talking about?"
Nunes surely had a amended Manchester derby this clip astir than helium did successful December.
The Portuguese talented the shot to Amad Diallo earlier chopping him down successful the container to springiness distant a penalty, with Bruno Fernandes converting earlier Diallo scored to springiness United a 2-1 win.
Rico Lewis is the lone earthy right-back near successful the squad and has been rotated with Nunes.
Nunes has been a inferior subordinate this play for City, playing successful centre midfield, some full-back positions, near midfield, and near wing.
Earlier this season, helium insisted helium could capable the spread successful midfield near by Rodri's semipermanent injury, but helium has lone played successful the mediate of the parkland since then.
Nunes made 2 large errors successful City's derby decision successful December (when helium played left-back and right-back)
'At Wolves I played much arsenic a winger and past twelvemonth present I played much arsenic a 10 but erstwhile I played for Sporting I ever played successful the treble pivot truthful I'm utilized to each presumption now,’ helium said.
'I effort to assistance the squad each clip the manager puts maine connected the tract but I cognize the different guys are each acceptable arsenic good due to the fact that we person truthful overmuch prime successful the team.
'We're going to person to capable the void due to the fact that it's a monolithic nonaccomplishment but whoever is connected the transportation is going to execute well.
'We person shown that if immoderate subordinate is retired we person different 1 that is acceptable and has apical prime to play.
'Last twelvemonth it happened with Erling and Kevin and we inactive managed to win. This year, I cognize we volition beryllium the same.'
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