Riyad Mahrez is international team-mates with Ryan Ait-Nouri (Image: Getty Images)
Ryan Ait-Nouri has revealed that former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez played a pivotal role in his decision to join Pep Guardiola's squad. Ait-Nouri, 24, was signed from Wolves in a deal worth up to £36million, effectively addressing a long-standing issue at left-back for the recently dethroned champions.
Mahrez, who had a successful five-year stint at City, winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League, moved to Saudi side Al-Ahli in 2023. As international team-mates for Algeria, Ait-Nouri disclosed how influential Mahrez, his international captain, was in his decision to make the move.
"I speak with Riyad," said Ait-Nouri. "I'm with him in the national team. He told me about the city of Manchester and he told me to give everything for this club."
"It's the biggest club in the world and I will try to follow him. In the beginning it was my choice to come to Manchester City, because I told my family 'I want to play for this team'.
"I like how they develop the team, how they play, and I'm very happy to be here, it's a pleasure for me.
"It will be crazy because we know this squad is top, top level. Every player I played against previously at City, when I played against them it was always very hard, because we know the quality of the players is incredible.
"For sure, I want to learn with them in the training and in the games."
Ait-Nouri has now joined forces with former Wolves team-mate Matheus Nunes, who made the same move from Molineux to the Etihad.
Ait-Nouri, who was close friends with Nunes at Wolves, is excited to reunite with the versatile Portugal international at Etihad Stadium. "I've spoken with him," Ait-Nouri revealed.
"We were always together when we were at Wolves. I spoke a little bit with him and he told me about the city. We didn't speak about football, we spoke about the city and life in Manchester, and I'm very excited to join up with Matheus again."
The player believes that under Guardiola's guidance and surrounded by world-class talents, he can elevate his game. "I'm young, I can improve a lot," said Ait-Nouri.
"I need to learn, to improve my football, for sure. It's for this reason I chose this big challenge, because I know I can improve my football. With this team and this manager, I will improve, for sure."
When asked about his aspirations at City, Ait-Nouri stated: "To win a lot of trophies and to give everything for the team, for the badge, to play with my team-mates and be happy with the coach and the staff."