Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted the club needs midfielder Matheus Nunes due to their packed schedule – amid reports he had been arrested in Madrid.
Spanish daily El Mundo reported on Wednesday that Nunes had been arrested last month on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone in a nightclub.
The 26-year-old Portuguese international is said to have been held in the early hours on September 8 at sprawling disco La Riviera and taken to a local police station for questioning.
El Mundo said the arrest occurred around 5.30am after he was accused of taking the phone from a 58-year-old man who had tried to take a photo of him without permission in the nightclub toilets.
Brazilian-born Nunes is said to have snatched the mobile in a fit of anger and refused to return it.
Matheus Nunes, centre, played in Man City’s Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava
Man City boss Pep Guardiola stressed the club will need Nunes amid their fixture pile-up
Reports of Nunes arrest in Madrid last month emerged following Man City’s victory on Tuesday
He is said to have been released hours later following the intervention of a lawyer.
El Mundo reported he is expected to face charges and trial over the incident.
Spanish police confirmed the man arrested was born in 1998, the same year Nunes was born, but said it was unable to comment on whether the suspect was the footballer.
Those with knowledge of the situation have, however, denied that Nunes was arrested and faces charges.
The 26-year-old is said to have pushed the man’s arm after they remained persistent in their request for a photo, against his wishes, with the phone falling out of their hand. It is claimed the man then called the police, who attended the scene but left without making an arrest.
Mail Sport has contacted Nunes’ representatives for comment.
The reports of Nunes’ arrest came a day after the midfielder started for Man City for just the second time this season.
He played the full 90 minutes as Man City earned a 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Guardiola had discussed Nunes inclusion pre-match, with the Man City boss stressing that the midfielder will be important given their gruelling calendar this season.
‘We need him,’ Guardiola told TNT Sports. ‘We are going to play at the end of the season the [Club] World Cup with no holidays, then we start the Premier League again.
‘We need absolutely everyone. The players don’t believe it. Always there are players who play more minutes than the other ones.
Nunes is said to have been held in the early hours on September 8 at sprawling disco La Riviera
Nunes, right, is said to have snatched a mobile phone from a man who had tried to take a photo of him without permission in the nightclub toilets
Those with knowledge of the situation however have denied that Nunes, pictured in August, was arrested and faces charges
‘At the end in this modern football with teams playing a lot of competitions everybody has to be ready otherwise is impossible.
‘They have to compete with each other and be ready for every situation.’
Guardiola had also claimed the midfielder possesses ‘unique qualities’ last week, after he scored on his first start of the season as Man City beat Watford 2-1 in the Carabao Cup.
‘He has special qualities few players have, he’s unique,’ the City boss said.
‘In the space, transitions, he is unbelievable. I’m really pleased for him and the goal.
‘He will score more. Still he has things to read and understand, it’s not easy sometimes in players to adapt.
‘I’m really pleased for him, because he’s a lovely guy and lovely guys always deserves good things.’
Nunes is seeking more game time since season after making nine league starts last campaign
The midfielder scored his first Man City goal in their Carabao Cup win over Watford last week
Guardiola described Nunes as a ‘lovely guy’ and praised his ‘unique qualities’ after the win
Nunes himself has suggested he could fill the void left by Rodri after the midfielder star was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.
Nunes has largely had a bit part role at City since his £53million move from Wolves in the summer of 2023.
He was limited to just nine Premier League starts during his debut season at the Etihad.