For weeks, Manchester City fans had been whispering one question around the Etihad — what is Pep Guardiola really thinking about this January window? The club that once ruled every inch of England now finds itself walking a thin line between dominance and self-discovery. But when the Catalan finally spoke, it wasn’t about transfers, it wasn’t about money, it wasn’t even about Arsenal breathing down their necks. It was about one man. Matheus Nunes. The Portuguese midfielder who quietly became the heartbeat of City’s new system, the unexpected right-back that nobody saw coming. Pep looked straight into the cameras and said words that caught everyone off guard — “He can be an incredible right-back.” That single line sent ripples through Manchester. Because it wasn’t just praise. It was prophecy.
Matheus Nunes joined Manchester City in the summer of 2023 from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but his first year didn’t go as planned. He looked lost in Pep’s complex rhythm. One game he’d look like a genius, the next he’d fade into shadows. People doubted him. Some even said he was another expensive experiment. But football has a strange way of turning doubt into destiny. When Kyle Walker left, a gap appeared that no one was ready for. City searched for replacements — names like Valentino Livramento from Newcastle, Wesley França from Roma — but nothing happened. Transfer talks came and went. Deals collapsed before signatures could dry. Then Guardiola turned to a player nobody expected — Nunes. A midfielder by nature. But Pep saw something different. “He’s strong, intelligent, and brave,” the manager whispered one evening during training. “Maybe he doesn’t even know it yet, but he can own that flank.”
It sounded crazy at first. A midfielder turned fullback? In a team that had just lost one of the best right-backs in modern football? Fans shook their heads. Pundits rolled their eyes. But Pep didn’t care. He never does. What he saw on the training ground convinced him more than any scouting report could. Nunes, quiet and disciplined, started to train like a man possessed. He stayed longer, studied positioning, watched Walker’s clips, and asked questions nobody else bothered to ask. Slowly, something began to shift. He wasn’t just adapting — he was transforming.
City had come off a strange summer. Seven new faces had arrived. The pressure was loud, and expectations louder. Yet amidst all the noise, Guardiola’s side rediscovered their rhythm. Unbeaten in all competitions since August, the Etihad was once again filled with confidence. The Champions League campaign had started strong. The Premier League form looked solid. But for Pep, it wasn’t just about winning games. It was about building the next version of Manchester City — the one that could outlast him.
Financially, City had decided not to make a big signing for the right-back role. Hugo Viana, the newly appointed sporting director, agreed with Pep that the team already had enough quality to adapt. Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis, John Stones — all were capable. But Pep’s eyes were on Nunes. He liked his aggression. He liked his athleticism. But most of all, he liked his courage. “When you tell Matheus to do something,” Pep said with that trademark smile, “he doesn’t ask why. He just does it with his full heart.”
In the press room before their clash against Aston Villa, Pep’s words painted a picture of pride. “In the last two or three games,” he said, “he has played unbelievable.” Those weren’t empty compliments. They were acknowledgments of a player who had fought through the storm of criticism to become a weapon in City’s new structure. A holding midfielder turned defender — but not just any defender. A dynamic, modern fullback capable of running box to box, breaking lines, and dictating rhythm. Pep called him “a right-back with the brain of a midfielder.” The journalists nodded. They had seen it too.
The transformation didn’t happen overnight. It came through sweat, late nights, and quiet belief. When City faced Brighton earlier in the month, Nunes was everywhere — tackling, overlapping, tracking back, and even creating. Pep stood on the sideline, arms folded, watching like a proud father. Every successful duel brought a nod of satisfaction. Every mistake brought a soft clap of encouragement. That’s the Guardiola way. He doesn’t just coach; he molds. And in Nunes, he found another masterpiece.
The story of Nunes mirrors Ciy’s current journey — a club balancing on two edges: experience and evolution. The core remains the same — Ederson, De Bruyne, Rodri, Foden — but Pep is slowly rewriting their system. The absence of a natural right-back forced him to experiment, and out of necessity came brilliance. Matheus Nunes, a man many thought would be sold or loaned out, suddenly became essential. His energy restored balance. His positioning gave Stones freedom. His intelligence gave Pep confidence. And now, as City prepare for the next chapter of the season, his name is on everyone’s lips.
Behind the scenes, City’s recruitment philosophy has changed too. The 2026 January window is not expected to be a shopping spree. Pep is satisfied with what he has. The focus is on development, not desperation. The players know it. The board knows it. City’s empire is built not just on money but on mindsets. Guardiola believes that if you give players responsibility, they either rise or disappear. Nunes rose. His rise gave Pep a reason to trust his instincts again.
Guardiola has always admired adaptability. He turned Fabian Delph into a left-back at City’s early stage, turned Cancelo into an inverted playmaker, and now he’s crafting Nunes into the next surprise. It’s his signature — taking what’s ordinary and turning it into gold. During one recent training session, Pep was heard shouting across the pitch, “Matheus! More inside! Don’t chase! Wait!” That constant guidance, that sharp detail, is what makes City different. Every inch of positioning matters, every touch tells a story. And Nunes listens. Always.
Inside the dressing room, his teammates have noticed the change. “He’s become one of us,” said Bernardo Silva in a quiet interview. “You can see how confident he is. He doesn’t panic anymore. He’s free.” The players trust him. The fans adore him. And Pep — well, Pep is already planning his evolution.
City’s current form speaks for itself. Unbeaten since August, they’ve climbed back to second place in the Premier League, just three points behind Arsenal. It’s a tight race, but Guardiola’s men are no strangers to pressure. The club’s ambition is clear: retain control of English football, conquer Europe again, and prove that dominance can be redefined. And in that mission, every player counts. Even the ones who weren’t expected to shine.
When asked about the January window, Pep didn’t flinch. “We have what we need,” he said calmly. “Sometimes people think new players fix problems, but real progress comes from within.” It was a message to the squad, a reminder that no one is safe, but everyone is trusted. The Catalan believes in evolution, not revolution. That’s why Nunes’s rise is symbolic — a product of faith over fear.
It’s hard not to see the poetic side of it. A Portuguese player, once doubted, now earning the trust of one of football’s greatest minds. A team known for its big-money signings, now thriving on internal growth. The same coach who once redefined Messi’s role at Barcelona is now redefining positions in Manchester. It’s football artistry — silent but ruthless.
In the coming weeks, City face a string of difficult fixtures. Aston Villa, Tottenham, and then the Champions League knockout stages. Each game will test their consistency, but Pep’s tone suggests calm confidence. “We go game by game,” he said. “We play our football, and the rest will come.” But deep down, he knows that these are the moments where champions are shaped. And perhaps, in that shaping, Matheus Nunes will become more than just a temporary solution — he might become a symbol of Guardiola’s final phase at City.
Because behind Pep’s praise often lies a challenge. When he says a player “can become one of the best,” it’s never a compliment alone — it’s a call to prove it. For Nunes, this is that moment. His transformation is not complete yet, but the foundation is solid. He has the pace, the stamina, the discipline, and most importantly, the heart. And if Pep trusts you with that much belief, you better live up to it.
At the Etihad training complex, the mood is light but focused. Players are laughing, passes are sharp, and confidence feels natural again. Guardiola walks among them quietly, occasionally pausing to speak to Nunes. Observers say those short conversations often carry deep meaning. A word, a gesture, a nod — that’s how Pep communicates with his chosen ones. He doesn’t need speeches. Just conviction.
As City prepare to face Aston Villa, one thing is clear — Guardiola’s trust in Nunes isn’t just tactical, it’s personal. The Portuguese player represents the adaptability Pep craves in every footballer. And if the manager continues to shape him this way, he could very well write a new chapter in City’s evolution. Maybe even one that defines this era.
For now, Pep’s words echo through Manchester: “He can be an incredible right-back.” Simple. Direct. But loaded with meaning. To some, it sounds like a statement. To others, a promise. To Nunes, it’s both. And as the lights shine bright over the Etihad once more, the story of Matheus Nunes — the midfielder who became Pep’s new masterpiece — continues to unfold.
And in that story lies the soul of Manchester City — a club that doesn’t just chase stars, it creates them
