Pep Guardiola holds concerns over ‘continued viability’ of one Manchester City star | OneFootball

The future of Matheus Nunes at Manchester City has been thrown further into doubt this week following the emergence of Pep Guardiola’s viewpoint on the player.

The Portugal international has endured a largely difficult time at the Etihad Stadium since arriving during the closing stages of the 2023 summer transfer window, struggling to break into Guardiola’s first-choice line-up.

With several names preferred to the former Wolves star in the central roles, the Manchester City manager has most recently found a job for the former Sporting CP man at right-back as the Etihad side struggle for solutions in light of Kyle Walker’s decline and pending exit.

Speaking in April, Pep Guardiola wrote the headlines with a comment concerning Nunes and his ability to play centrally for City, as he told a press conference, “He can become a good right-back for the physicality.

“I think he’s not a player to play in the middle because he’s not clever enough, in composure. He has incredible skills and he’s learning a lot.”

But having held down the right-back slot for the majority of matches since Kyle Walker’s initial loan exit from the club last January, it appears as though Nunes still may not have a secured future in the position heading into the new campaign.

That is according to the information of MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, who reveals that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is thought to be unsure about the continued viability of Matheus Nunes at right-back.

Hugo Viana – Manchester City’s director of football – is believed to be keen on the idea of recruiting a new top-level right-sided full-back this summer, but has so far faced complications in that pursuit.

Among the names to have been of interest is Flamengo’s Wesley, who has also attracted interest from Brighton & Hove Albion with a £20 million bid reportedly submitted by the south coast club this summer.

With the Brazilian outfit also competing at this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, nothing has developed concerning the player, while City’s priority target is Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento – a negotiation that was placed on hold before the US-based tournament.

The versatile defender has had his focusses on the ongoing Under-21 European Championship with Lee Carsley’s England, successfully reaching the Final of the tournament alongside City’s James McAtee where they will face Germany.