Mathues Nunes says he is more than happy to be Manchester City’s very own flexible friend.
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The Portuguese international, who forged a formidable reputation as an attacking midfielder with Sporting CP and then Wolves, has over the past 18 months also proved a hugely versatile asset to Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Nunes has shown his adaptability by being deployed at different times as a right back, right winger and even a holding midfielder as well as in his more traditional attacking position.
Nunes was selected at right back for Thursday’s impressive 5-2 win over Juventus in our final Group G game at the FIFA Club World Cup and once again caught the eye.
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He also provided an assist for both Erling Haaland’s goal early in the second half – the Norwegian’s 300th career strike for Club and county – as well as providing the cross that led to Pierre Kalulu’s first half own goal.
For his part, Nunes says he is simply happy to help contribute to the team in any way possible.
“I mean wherever the manager puts me I’m always going to try and do my best,” Nunes said.
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“You also have other players that have done different positions as well and done well in all of them.
“So, I mean it doesn’t matter where he puts me on, I’m always going to try to do my best.
“That’s what I did on Thursday and happily [I think] I did good.”
In many ways it’s a new look City squad that has travelled out to the United States.
Four new signings – Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettenelli and Rayan Cherki - are all part of Pep Guardiola’s squad while a number of new faces have also come in on the coaching front.
However, for Nunes, the principles that have underpinned City’s squad for so long remain unchanged – as do several key players who have been central that era of glittering success.
“I think the base [of the squad] is quite the same. I mean, they’ve been here for 10 years already,” Nunes added.
“Everyone knows, like everything
“The training, the way the manager wants us to press; the way he wants us to attack.
“Of course, in different games you have different ways of doing it.
“But I mean now we are just used to everything because, I mean, we’ve been together for so long.”
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