Adrian Clarke looks at summer signings and what impact they will have at their new clubs.
Player analysis: Matheus Nunes (Man City)
Manchester City have signed one of the Premier League’s finest ball carriers, but where will Nunes fit into Pep Guardiola’s formation?
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The answer to that is yet unknown, as the gifted Portuguese midfielder never truly nailed down a regular position within Wolverhampton Wanderers' starting XI.
See: Man City sign Nunes
Playing under four different head coaches in just over a year at Molineux, the 25-year-old was used in a variety of roles.
Nunes can play as part of a midfield pairing, wide on the left or right - where he likes to drift infield - or as a No 10.
In the absence of injured Kevin De Bruyne, he could be used as a box-to-box player - but until we see Nunes in action for the champions, nobody can be certain of the plan.
Breaking lines from the deep
Part of the confusion surrounding his potential role is because some of the most eye-catching work Nunes does often takes place inside his own half.
Against Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion, eight of his 11 completed dribbles occurred in deep areas.
Nunes is a player who likes to face the opposition goal, using space in front of him to utilise his speed and skillset.
Playing for Man City’s possession-heavy side, who tend to have the ball in advanced areas for most of their matches, Nunes will need to adapt.
Facing lower blocks and teams who clog up space between the lines, the former Wolves star may not find it so easy to glide past opponents.
Guardiola will be hoping his balance and quality with the ball at his feet will still enable him to break the lines further upfield.
As these numbers from this season suggest, there is no doubt Nunes will be one of City’s best ball carriers.
Nunes comparison with City players 23/24
| Player | Ave. carry distance | Player | Ave. carry progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunes | 13.35m | Haaland | 11.18m |
| Lewis | 12.77m | Gvardiol | 7.88m |
| Grealish | 12.74m | Nunes | 7.20m |
| Haaland | 12.21m | Dias | 6.99m |
| B.Silva | 12.20m | Alvarez | 6.92m |
Better end product required
Playing for the European champions is sure to help Nunes flourish more regularly inside the final third, but his numbers at Premier League level are modest.
While he was always one of Wolves’ principal chance-makers, Nunes rarely made a big impact inside the final third.
This will need to improve if he is to feature regularly for the leaders.
Nunes attacking stats in 2022/23
| Total | Per 90 | |
| Minutes played | 2,475 | N/A |
| Chances created from open play | 25 | 0.91 |
| Shots on target | 9 | 0.33 |
| Goals | 1 | 0.04 |
| Assists | 1 | 0.04 |
Nunes' natural ability suggests he is good enough to vastly enhance his attacking output in a Man City shirt.
He will certainly get the support and backing from long-term admirer Guardiola, who has previously described him as “one of the best players in the world today".
Can Nunes live up to that billing at the Etihad Stadium? It will be intriguing to see how his game develops in new surroundings.
Also in this series
Part 1: Gravenberch's versatility can help balance Liverpool midfield
Part 2: Why combative Amrabat can resolve Man Utd's midfield issues
Part 3: How Johnson will help accelerate Spurs' attack
