The 2024/25 season will be remembered as a pivotal campaign in Matheus Nunes’ career, marking his transformation from a seemingly misplaced midfielder struggling to find his role at Manchester City to an indispensable utility player who helped secure the club’s Champions League qualification. What began as a season of uncertainty and limited opportunities evolved into a compelling narrative of adaptation, resilience, and tactical flexibility that exemplifies the demanding nature of elite football.
The Uncertain Beginning: A Midfielder Without a Position
When Manchester City invested in Matheus Nunes ahead of the 2023/24 season, the Portuguese international arrived at the Etihad Stadium with considerable expectations. The club had identified him as a key addition to their midfield ranks, recognizing his technical ability, work rate, and potential to contribute to Pep Guardiola’s intricate tactical system. However, the early months of the 2024/25 campaign painted a starkly different picture than what both the player and the club had envisioned.
The Portuguese midfielder found himself in an increasingly precarious position during the first half of the season. Despite his evident technical skills and previous success at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nunes struggled to establish himself in Manchester City’s competitive midfield hierarchy. The presence of established stars like Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva, combined with the emergence of younger talents and the club’s tactical evolution, left limited space for Nunes to make his mark in his preferred position.
Guardiola’s system, renowned for its tactical complexity and positional demands, requires players to demonstrate not only technical proficiency but also an intuitive understanding of spatial relationships and timing. For Nunes, this adaptation period proved more challenging than anticipated. His performances in central midfield lacked the consistency and tactical awareness that Guardiola demands from his players, leading to reduced playing time and growing speculation about his future at the club.
The situation was further complicated by Manchester City’s midfield struggles during the first half of the season. Despite having quality options available, the team’s central areas occasionally lacked the dynamism and creativity that had characterized their previous campaigns. Ironically, even during this period of midfield uncertainty, Nunes couldn’t secure a regular starting position, highlighting the competitive nature of the squad and the specific requirements of Guardiola’s tactical approach.
As the weeks progressed, questions began to emerge about whether the Portuguese international represented a misguided investment. Critics pointed to his limited impact in crucial matches, while supporters wondered if his skill set was fundamentally incompatible with Manchester City’s playing philosophy. The narrative surrounding Nunes became increasingly focused on his apparent inability to adapt to the Premier League’s intensity and Guardiola’s tactical demands.
The January Turning Point: Opportunity Through Necessity
The January transfer window of 2025 marked a crucial turning point in Matheus Nunes’ Manchester City career, though not in the way anyone had anticipated. Kyle Walker’s departure to AC Milan on loan created an unexpected vacancy in the right-back position, presenting Guardiola with both a challenge and an opportunity. The Spanish tactician, known for his innovative approach to player deployment and tactical flexibility, saw potential in utilizing Nunes’ athleticism and technical ability in a completely different role.
This positional switch represented more than just a tactical adjustment; it symbolized the kind of adaptability that defines successful players in modern football. Guardiola’s decision to deploy Nunes at right-back demonstrated his belief in the player’s fundamental qualities while acknowledging that his path to success at Manchester City might require a complete reimagining of his role within the team.
The transition wasn’t immediate or seamless. Playing as a fullback in Guardiola’s system requires a unique combination of defensive discipline, attacking instinct, and positional intelligence. Nunes had to quickly familiarize himself with the defensive responsibilities that come with the position while maintaining the attacking threat that modern fullbacks are expected to provide. This meant understanding when to overlap, when to invert into midfield, and when to provide width in the final third.
What made this transition particularly interesting was how it highlighted Nunes’ underlying athletic and technical qualities. His pace, which had sometimes appeared underutilized in central midfield, became a crucial asset in the right-back position. His ability to carry the ball forward and deliver crosses from wide positions added a new dimension to Manchester City’s attacking play, while his work rate and commitment helped address any defensive concerns about his positional switch.
The timing of this role change also coincided with Manchester City’s need for greater tactical flexibility. As the season progressed and the competition intensified, Guardiola required players who could adapt to different systems and provide multiple tactical options. Nunes’ willingness to embrace this new challenge and his gradual improvement in the position became emblematic of the mental resilience required to succeed at the highest level.
Versatility as a Virtue: The Multi-Position Impact
Throughout the 2024/25 season, Matheus Nunes accumulated 39 appearances across all competitions, a statistic that tells only part of the story of his contribution to Manchester City’s campaign. His four goals and ten assists provide quantitative evidence of his impact, but the true measure of his value lay in the tactical flexibility he offered Guardiola throughout the season.
During the first half of the campaign, before his transition to right-back, Nunes had also demonstrated his ability to operate effectively on the left wing. This positional versatility became increasingly valuable as Manchester City navigated through a congested fixture schedule and dealt with various injury concerns throughout the squad. His ability to slot into different positions without significant tactical adjustment allowed Guardiola to maintain his preferred playing style while managing player workload and tactical variations.
The Portuguese international’s pace became a defining characteristic of his play, regardless of position. When operating from the right-back position during the second half of the season, his overlapping runs provided Manchester City with consistent width and attacking threat down the right flank. These forward surges not only created scoring opportunities but also helped stretch opposition defenses, creating space for Manchester City’s central attackers to operate.
His delivery from wide positions represented another crucial aspect of his contribution. Nunes developed an understanding of his teammates’ movement patterns and preferences, allowing him to provide the kind of service that Manchester City’s attacking players could effectively utilize. Whether delivering early crosses, cutting back for arriving midfielders, or providing simple possession retention in the final third, his technical ability proved adaptable to different tactical requirements.
The evolution of his defensive game deserves particular recognition. Transitioning from a midfielder to a fullback requires developing new instincts and positioning awareness. Nunes had to learn to defend one-on-one situations more consistently, understand when to press and when to hold his position, and develop the kind of tactical discipline that prevents opposition attacks from developing down his flank. His improvement in these areas throughout the season demonstrated both his learning capacity and his commitment to his new role.
Stepping Up in Critical Moments: The Championship Run
As the 2024/25 season entered its crucial final stages, Manchester City found themselves in a battle to secure Champions League qualification for the following campaign. This period tested not only the team’s collective resolve but also individual character, and it was during these pressure-filled weeks that Matheus Nunes truly established his value to the squad.
His performances during the championship run were characterized by consistency and reliability, qualities that proved essential when the margin for error was minimal. The Portuguese international’s ability to maintain his performance level while operating in an unfamiliar position demonstrated the kind of mental strength that Guardiola values in his players. Rather than allowing the pressure of the situation to affect his decision-making, Nunes maintained his composure and continued to provide the tactical flexibility that Manchester City required.
The impact of his overlapping runs became particularly evident during this period. Opposition teams, focused on containing Manchester City’s central attacking threats, sometimes struggled to account for the consistent attacking contributions from the right-back position. Nunes’ pace and timing allowed him to arrive in dangerous positions at crucial moments, creating numerical advantages in the final third that Manchester City could exploit.
His defensive contributions during this period were equally important. As Manchester City faced teams desperate for points and willing to commit numbers forward, Nunes’ defensive discipline helped maintain the team’s structural integrity. His ability to defend one-on-one situations and provide cover for his teammates allowed Manchester City to maintain their attacking ambitions without compromising their defensive stability.
The psychological aspect of his contribution shouldn’t be underestimated. Having struggled to establish himself earlier in the season, Nunes’ emergence as a reliable performer during the most crucial period of the campaign provided both personal vindication and team stability. His transformation from a player whose future appeared uncertain to someone the team could depend upon in crucial moments represented the kind of character development that defines successful careers.
Technical Analysis: The Right-Back Transformation
The tactical nuances of Matheus Nunes’ transition from midfielder to right-back reveal the complexity of modern football and the specific demands of playing under Pep Guardiola. This positional switch required not just physical adaptation but a complete reimagining of his spatial awareness and decision-making processes.
As a right-back in Guardiola’s system, Nunes needed to understand the concept of positional rotation and inversion. Modern fullbacks are expected to provide width when the team attacks but also to move into central areas when possession requires additional passing options. This means reading the game constantly and making split-second decisions about when to overlap, when to underlap, and when to hold position to maintain defensive balance.
His crossing ability developed significantly throughout the season. Early in his right-back career, Nunes sometimes struggled with the timing and quality of his deliveries from wide positions. However, through consistent practice and game experience, he improved his ability to pick out teammates in the penalty area and deliver crosses that created genuine scoring opportunities. This development was crucial because modern fullbacks are expected to be genuine attacking threats rather than simply defensive players who occasionally venture forward.
The defensive aspects of his game required the most significant adjustment. Playing as a midfielder, Nunes was accustomed to defending in central areas with support from teammates on all sides. As a fullback, he had to learn to defend large spaces independently and deal with opposition wingers in one-on-one situations. His pace proved advantageous in these scenarios, allowing him to recover when caught out of position and to match the speed of opposing attackers.
His understanding of defensive triggers and pressing cues also evolved throughout the season. Guardiola’s teams press collectively, with each player’s pressing action coordinated with their teammates’ movements. Nunes had to learn when to press aggressively, when to show opposition players onto their weaker foot, and when to simply contain and prevent penetration. This tactical education was evident in his improved defensive statistics as the season progressed.
The Mental Journey: From Uncertainty to Confidence
The psychological transformation that Matheus Nunes underwent during the 2024/25 season represents one of the most compelling aspects of his story. The journey from a player whose future at Manchester City appeared uncertain to someone who played a crucial role in securing Champions League qualification required significant mental resilience and adaptability.
The early struggles in central midfield could have easily undermined his confidence and led to a negative spiral of performance and opportunity. Many players in similar situations become increasingly tentative in their play, second-guessing their decisions and losing the natural instincts that made them successful at previous levels. Nunes, however, demonstrated the mental fortitude to maintain his belief in his abilities while remaining open to tactical adaptation.
The willingness to embrace a completely new position midway through the season speaks to both his professionalism and his understanding of team needs. Rather than viewing the positional switch as a demotion or an indication that his midfield career was over, Nunes approached the challenge as an opportunity to contribute to the team’s success while developing new aspects of his game.
His ability to handle the pressure of playing in an unfamiliar position during crucial matches demonstrated remarkable mental strength. The Champions League qualification battle required consistent performance levels, and any significant mistakes in his new position could have had serious consequences for both his personal standing and the team’s objectives. The fact that he maintained his performance level while continuing to develop in the role showed impressive psychological resilience.
The support structure around him at Manchester City undoubtedly played a role in this mental transformation. Guardiola’s coaching staff are renowned for their ability to help players adapt to new roles and responsibilities, providing both tactical instruction and psychological support. The gradual integration process and the faith shown in him during crucial matches helped build the confidence that became evident in his later performances.
Team Impact: Beyond Individual Statistics
While Matheus Nunes’ individual statistics of 39 appearances, four goals, and ten assists provide measurable evidence of his contribution, his impact on Manchester City’s overall performance extended far beyond these numbers. His versatility provided Guardiola with tactical options that proved crucial throughout the campaign, particularly during the intense final weeks of the season.
The ability to deploy a reliable player in multiple positions allowed Manchester City to maintain their tactical identity while managing player fatigue and injuries. Rather than being forced into significant tactical adjustments when key players were unavailable, Guardiola could rely on Nunes to provide competent performances in different roles without compromising the team’s overall approach.
His presence in the squad also provided psychological benefits that are difficult to quantify. The transformation from a struggling squad player to a reliable contributor sent a positive message to other players about the possibilities for development and contribution within Guardiola’s system. This kind of example can inspire teammates and create a positive training environment where players believe in their potential for growth and adaptation.
The tactical balance he provided from the right-back position was particularly valuable during the Champions League qualification battle. His attacking contributions helped maintain Manchester City’s offensive threat while his defensive development provided the stability required during crucial matches. This balance allowed the team to maintain their attacking philosophy while ensuring defensive solidity.
His work rate and commitment also set important standards within the squad. Players who embrace new challenges and maintain high performance levels regardless of their position send powerful messages about professional attitude and team commitment. Nunes’ approach throughout the season exemplified the kind of mentality that successful teams require from all squad members.
Looking Forward: Future Prospects and Role Definition
As the 2024/25 season concluded with Manchester City successfully securing their Champions League qualification, Matheus Nunes found himself in a dramatically different position than he had occupied at the campaign’s beginning. His successful adaptation to the right-back role and his contributions during crucial matches established him as a valuable squad member with a clear role in future planning.
The question of his long-term position within the team remains intriguuing. While his development as a right-back has been impressive, his ability to operate in multiple positions may prove even more valuable in the long term. Modern football increasingly values versatile players who can provide tactical flexibility, and Nunes has demonstrated exactly this quality throughout the season.
His experience in different positions has also enhanced his overall understanding of the game. Playing as a fullback has given him new perspectives on defensive responsibilities and attacking timing that could prove valuable if he returns to midfield roles in future. This positional education often creates more complete players who understand the game from multiple perspectives.
The confidence gained from his successful adaptation should serve him well regardless of his future role. Players who have overcome significant challenges and proven their adaptability often carry this mental strength into new situations. Nunes’ journey from uncertainty to reliability has equipped him with the psychological tools required for continued success at the highest level.
Manchester City’s faith in his development suggests that he will continue to feature prominently in future planning. Teams invest significant resources in player development, and his progress throughout the season represents a positive return on that investment. His combination of technical ability, physical attributes, and proven adaptability makes him a valuable asset for future campaigns.
Conclusion: A Season of Transformation and Validation
The 2024/25 season will be remembered as the campaign that defined Matheus Nunes’ Manchester City career. His journey from a struggling midfielder to a crucial contributor in an unfamiliar position exemplifies the demands and opportunities that exist within elite football. The transformation required not only tactical adaptation but also mental resilience, professional commitment, and the willingness to prioritize team success over personal preferences.
His story provides inspiration for players facing similar challenges while demonstrating the value of tactical flexibility in modern football. The willingness to embrace new roles and responsibilities, combined with the mental strength to perform under pressure, represents the kind of attitude that successful teams require from their squad members.
The impact of his contributions extended beyond individual performance to influence team dynamics and tactical possibilities. His versatility provided Guardiola with options that proved crucial during the championship run, while his commitment and development set positive examples for teammates facing their own challenges.
As Manchester City prepares for future campaigns with Champions League football secured, Matheus Nunes can take satisfaction in knowing that his contributions were essential in achieving this objective. His transformation from uncertainty to reliability, from squad player to key contributor, represents one of the season’s most compelling individual stories and provides a foundation for continued success in future campaigns.
The Portuguese international’s journey serves as a reminder that football careers are rarely linear and that success often requires adaptability, resilience, and the willingness to embrace new challenges. His 2024/25 season will stand as testament to these qualities and as evidence that determination and professional commitment can overcome initial setbacks to achieve meaningful contribution at the highest level of the game.
