Matheus Nunes has opened up about his significant role transition at Manchester City, moving from midfield to right back under Pep Guardiola's management, and the emotional experience of Guardiola's departure from the club.

Nunes admitted that initially, he struggled to accept the positional change. He recalled conversations with teammates Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias, who encouraged him to embrace the new role. "You need to accept it," they told him, but Nunes initially resisted, stating, "I always told my friends that I wasn't a full back."

Guardiola himself had previously commented that Nunes was not "clever enough" to play in central midfield for City, though he later clarified these remarks with the player. The transition was not without its difficulties; Nunes experienced periods of inconsistency and was affected by mistakes, including conceding a penalty in a derby defeat. "Individually I would say this is probably the most difficult game," he said, referring to a match where a mistake led to a goal.

His mindset began to shift during the Club World Cup, where he experienced a run of games in the new position. This period allowed him to see his potential as a defender. "Oh, I can actually play good," he thought, which he credits with changing his perspective. He also worked with a psychologist during this time.

Nunes described feeling a difference in his interaction with Guardiola as his confidence grew. "The way he believed in me, I felt there was a bit of a difference in the way that we interacted with each other," he said.

He became emotional when discussing Guardiola's exit from Manchester City. Nunes described a video montage shown to players and staff after the manager announced his departure, during which "a lot of people were crying." He noted that Guardiola managed to maintain composure. "It's very hard to say goodbye to someone who gave so much to us all," Nunes stated. "Someone who put the club to a level that seems unreachable again."

The departures of both Guardiola and teammates like John Stones have contributed to what Nunes described as a "sombre summer." He characterized Stones as an important and jovial figure within the team, highlighting the importance of humor. "What's the point of life if you're not having a laugh?" he asked.

Nunes now heads into the new Premier League season as Enzo Maresca's first-choice right back, a role he has come to accept and feel comfortable in, a significant change from his initial reluctance.