Rayan Ait-Nouri could have made a remarkable move to Manchester United and is well down the pecking order for Manchester City left-backs
Rayan Ait-Nouri for Manchester City
Rayan Ait-Nouri for Manchester City
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Rayan Ait-Nouri has been told that he is seen as a winger rather than a full-back at Manchester City this season. The defender has been overlooked in the back four under Enzo Maresca and the coach would rather use the Algeria international further up the pitch.
Ait-Nouri struggled for opportunities last season after switching from Wolves but was hoping for a fresh start under Maresca. However, Nico O'Reilly, Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov and youngster Kaden Braithwaite have all been used at left-back this season instead of Ait-Nouri and he even considered a deadline day switch to rivals United for more game time.
Khusanov came on for Gvardiol in Porto early in the second half despite having never played left-back before for the club, and when Ait-Nouri did come on - his first minutes of the season - he was used in front of Khusanov in the midfield. It was a productive cameo, teeing up Erling Haaland for the second goal, but another sign of the challenge Ait-Nouri has in front of him.
"In that moment we need more defenders in terms of strong winning duels, defend in behind," said Maresca of his midweek change. "Technically he is very good. One v one he is good. In terms of passes, the other day he made a good assist for Erling.
"When he was at Wolves it was a back five, so more of a wing back. I see him more as a winger than a full back but it doesn’t mean in the future that if we need him as a full back we are not going to use him."
Gvardiol has started all four games so far at left-back, and while O'Reilly has been used in midfield he too is seen more as a defender by Maresca. Braithwaite, a centre-back that can also play on the left, is one of three academy players to have been promoted to the first team this summer alongside Ryan McAidoo and Floyd Samba.