What does Matheus Nunes offer to Manchester City?
Matheus Nunes is the latest example of the steady shift to player empowerment across the footballing landscape.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder, who only signed for the Midlands team a year prior for a club-record £38 million, has rebelled against playing for the club as Pep Guardiola and co. have offered him the chance to lift silverware and play for a loaded Manchester City side.
When Guardiola masterminded a 5-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in February 2022, he called Nunes one of the ‘best players in the world.’ That by itself, is a badge of honor for any player, being noticed to such a deep extent by Guardiola.
And to receive a dream opportunity with just one goal in English football is a huge coup, which speaks volumes to the quality of Nunes’ play.
The 11-time capped Portuguese international is most likely on his way to the Etihad, per multiple reports. It’s also believed that an agreement in principle has been reached between the two PL clubs for his transfer. Man City are set to pay £47.3m with no expected add-ons.
City saw a bid rejected last week, with the Wolves demanding over £60m for a player tied to a five-year contract. However, it appears as though a deal has been agreed to, albeit just verbally.
Wolves scored no more than 31 goals in the division last season, while Nunes failed to live up to the hype, netting just one marker and being responsible for the team’s generosity at the back that saw them trapped in a relegation scrap.
Why then, is Nunes the chosen one following Kevin de Bruyne’s injury? What a three-man midfield that receives ample support from wide full-backs and a certain Rodri offers Nunes the chance to express himself in the middle third.
Even though he’s not blessed with a titanic frame that frightens the opposing midfielders, the 25-year-old is a tireless athlete who would pair exceptionally well with Mateo Kovacic on the left.
Guardiola loves to work with players who run for their lives if the goal is to recycle possession, and that’s something that put Nunes on the map. Man City’s attack will be doubled with Rodri’s range of passing, accompanied by Kovacic and Nunes’ ball-carrying abilities.
Nunes can prove to be a handful with his turn of pace and dribbling. He’s almost obsessed with eye-catching carries and take-ons that can illuminate any highlight reel.
There’ll be more space to play with at City, as well. He would offer depth off the bench when playing against low blocks – a hurdle City face almost every other week. We’re not far away from the point of the season where schedules become rapid, and the gap between two international breaks feels like the snap of a finger.
Man City’s brandrr of football revolves around patience, tiring teams down and passing until the perfect opening is found tends to suit his free-flowing style. He’ll only amplify the Cityzens’ press-resistant scheme.
It would mean fewer minutes for some of the City stars and is a big blow for Wolves with less than 48 hours left in the window, but Nunes could be one that raises the fans off their feet while making a run from one edge of the box to another.
-Roy Akarshak
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: Alex SCP. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.