Exactly two weeks after leaving Wolves, Rayan Ait-Nouri made his debut for Manchester City.
Ait-Nouri’s exit was painful for fans, as Wolves lost a superb player in the Algerian.
The 24-year-old offered so much to Vitor Pereira’s squad, and now, he’s set to be schooled by Pep Guardiola.
For the first time at his new club, Ait-Nouri stepped onto the pitch, making his debut for Man City during their resounding Club World Cup win over Al-Ain.
Manchester City FC v Al Ain FC: Group G - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Pep Guardiola reacts to Rayan Ait-Nouri’s debut
Ait-Nouri was one of the best left-backs in the league during his final season at Wolves, which is exactly why Guardiola felt the need to lure him to the Etihad.
After his first 90 minutes for the Cityzens, it’s fair to say that his new boss was impressed, as Guardiola waxed lyrical about the Algerian’s display.
“Wow, he played very good because we had to defend a back four and then a back five, he had to arrive in the end,” Guardiola told the media, as relayed by Man City’s official website.
The Spaniard continued to laud Ait-Nouri, opening up about where fans could see the former Wolf play in the future.
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“At the end he played really good. It’s his first game but he’s played in the Premier League for many years.
“He can help us play in that important role, then he went holding midfield in the pockets, he moves really well in small spaces.”
Praise didn’t stop there, as Guardiola ended by expressing his satisfaction over Ait-Nouri’s intelligence and defensive nous.
“He’s intelligent and clear to defend and take the ball and especially in the final third he’s so clever as well. I was really pleased for the game he played.”
Ait-Nouri’s statistics from his Man City debut vs Al-Ain
If Guardiola’s impression of Ait-Nouri’s performance is the first feedback Wolves fans have of the Algerian’s debut, his numbers certainly match the praise.
Rayan Ait-Nouri vs Al-Ain
90 minutes played
4 defensive actions
8 duel wins
17x possession lost
92 touches
95% pass completion
2 shots
4 successful dribbles
Rayan Ait-Nouri vs Al-Ain – Sofascore
With 92 touches, the former Wolf was heavily involved in the game, misplacing only three passes and completing as many as four dribbles.
The fullback was a force to be reckoned with, not only in the final third but defensively too, winning eight duels and contributing four defensive actions through three tackles and one clearance.
Such might surprise fans at Molineux, as Ait-Nouri wasn’t known for his defending at Wolves.
It’s uplifting to see that the 24-year-old, who gave five years of his career to Wolves, enjoyed a successful debut, where he certainly won over Guardiola.