Rayan Ait-Nouri will become the first specialist left-back at Manchester City since Joao Cancelo and now has the opportunity to further develop his undoubted talent.
The Algeria international has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium after the clubs agreed a deal worth £35 million. He becomes City’s first major signing of the summer, with AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders also set to join. Both are available for the upcoming Club World Cup later this month.
Ait-Nouri is an introvert off the field and an extrovert on it, possessing a sublime ability to carry the ball which evokes comparisons with Riyad Mahrez, a former City player and team-mate in the Algeria national team.
His improvement over the last 18 months, particularly from a defensive point of view, suggests that he could be the perfect fit for Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City have trailed him for at least three transfer windows. Liverpool also scouted him frequently before opting to target Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez this summer.
Ait-Nouri’s metrics are higher than Kerkez, however, and the 24-year-old will now have the stage to flourish.
Despite his age, it does feel like he has been at Wolves for a very long time. He joined them almost five years ago, initially on loan, and it seems like a trick of the imagination that managers such as Nuno Espirito Santo and Julen Lopetegui were never convinced.
It has been his emergence under first Gary O’Neil and then Vitor Pereira that has elevated his reputation and ultimately landed him the chance to play for Guardiola.
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“I am incredibly happy and honoured to have joined Manchester City. City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the chance to play for the club is a dream come true,” Ait-Nouri said.
“I am also so excited about working with and learning from Pep and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world-class group of players.
“I’m young and I came here to improve a lot. I need to learn and improve my football for sure – it’s why I chose this big challenge.
“I know I can improve my football and being in these kind of conditions with this team and this manager, for sure I will improve my football.”
Though he will play primarily as a left-back at the Etihad, Ait-Nouri comes alive with the ball at his feet in attacking positions.
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He is an exciting performer who possesses skill and trickery, so the challenge of becoming Guardiola’s inverted full-back will be easily achievable.
He has also improved defensively, especially in one-on-one situations, and concerns over his physicality and aerial prowess have largely disappeared.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Cancelo, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol and, most recently, Nico O’Reilly have been among the players to fill the position, and while Ait-Nouri’s arrival may go under the radar, in comparison to other signings City may make this summer, do not be surprised if he proves to be a huge success.