Matheus Nunes spent six months rejecting the idea of playing full-back at Manchester City, insisting to anyone who would listen, "I'm not a full-back." Despite encouragement from friends, family, teammates Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias, and manager Pep Guardiola, he resisted the positional change that was trialled from December 2024.
His first season at the Etihad had been unhappy, with limited minutes in his preferred midfield role. A disastrous start at full-back, including giving away a penalty in a December derby loss, seemed to justify his reluctance. Nunes disappeared from the squad for a month after what he called his lowest point at the club.
Turning Point
The Club World Cup last summer proved pivotal. Nunes had more games where he could influence play from full-back, and he began to accept the role. By last season, he was one of Guardiola's most used players, with only Erling Haaland getting more minutes.
Nunes noticed a change in Guardiola's attitude towards him once he embraced the position. Regular conversations with the manager and assistants Kolo Toure and Pep Lijnders helped him hone the role.
Emotional Farewell
Nunes grew close to Guardiola, and described the emotional moment the manager announced his departure in a video presentation. "A lot of people were crying," he said. "It's very hard to say goodbye to someone who gave so much to us all."
Now a senior player in a younger squad, Nunes is part of the 2023 intake that must set standards. With the departures of Stones and Silva, he carries more responsibility, but he remains a joker in the dressing room, a nickname "Cafunes" that started with Bernardo Silva.
Mindset Shift
Nunes reflected on his change of mindset: "At a certain point you just have to see what the people are saying. You can't be denying it for the rest of your life." He now feels no difference between playing midfield or full-back.
He also urged perspective on the club's success, noting that winning six Premier Leagues in 10 years is "almost impossible" and that not winning is not a failure. "The club deserves us to try," he said.
