Manchester City is one club where often, a player’s role is redefined by Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola is a manager who is seemingly unafraid to take bold decisions, even in some of the biggest games of the season about where he wishes to field his players.
For example, the Manchester City boss was happy to deploy Josko Gvardiol as a left-back from day one, despite him being a natural centre-back; a decision which initially raised some eyebrows.
Pat Nevin claimed Guardiola erred by playing Gvardiol as a left-back in City’s 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa last season.
However, at the end of the season, the Croatian international emerged as one of City’s best players.
Similarly, Pep Guardiola took a punt on Julian Alvarez being his go-to number 10 for much of the previous campaign due to Kevin De Bruyne’s injury; a position he had rarely played in his career.
On Tuesday, The Telegraph reported that Pedro Neto is a player who could be viewed as a replacement for Atletico Madrid target Alvarez.
If Manchester City were to sign Neto, that would mean they have seven players who can play on the wing at their disposal; with Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Jack Grealish, Oscar Bobb, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva.
The Wolves speedster’s arrival could mean that one player could play in another role next season.
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If Man City sign Pedro Neto, Bernardo Silva may only play in midfield next season
In theory, the answer should be between Grealish and Bernardo — two players who could be moved to midfield by Pep Guardiola.
However, it seems much likelier that the Portuguese international is asked to do so if a deal for Neto is struck as the former Aston Villa captain has rarely been given a go as a midfielder during his spell at City.
In pre-season as well, Grealish played as a left-winger despite the absence of several of his side’s starting midfielders.
Last season, the £300,000-a-week man, who was signed from AS Monaco in 2017 played in two variations of the right-wing position.
Bernardo was either tasked to hold the width on that side or drop into midfield areas due to Kyle Walker being asked to operate as a right-winger when Manchester City had possession.
Either way, the £43 million attacker was often paired with either Doku, Foden or Grealish as a wing duo.
But Neto is a natural right-winger, much like Savinho.
The former Braga wideman started eight in 18 of his Premier League matches on the right flank.
While Doku and Grealish have been battling it out as Manchester City’s starting left-wingers since last season and seem set to do so in the upcoming campaign as well.
As a result, the 24-year-old’s potential arrival could mean Bernardo is exclusively tasked to play in midfield and specifically as a number eight — a position where City are quite light due to Mateo Kovacic being the club’s in-form option.
Rico Lewis is still finding a way to get regular minutes at his boyhood club while Matheus Nunes is yet to find his feet at City.
The six-time Premier League winner, on the other hand, has played in central midfield for a large chunk of his spell at the Etihad Stadium and emerged as one of the best players in the world in his position.
Kovacic was solid but not spectacular during his debut campaign and truly came into his own during the Sky Blues’ title run-in but with Bernardo having produced world-class campaigns as a number eight, the potential signing of Neto could mean his role changes next season.
