Rayan Ait-Nouri is being lined up for a Manchester City exit in January after having been on the fringes of Enzo Maresca's Premier League plans since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium, as per a new report.
Rayan Ait-Nouri's representatives explored a possible loan move to Old Trafford on the final day of the summer transfer window.
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The Algeria international joined Manchester City from Wolves for £31 million last summer as part of the club's significant overhaul of the squad under new manager Enzo Maresca and director of football Hugo Viana.
At the time of his signing, Ait-Nouri was considered one of the more exciting left-back prospects in English football: a player who had consistently outperformed the level of a Wolves side in decline and whose athletic, attack-minded profile fitted the kind of full-back Maresca had deployed during his time in charge of Leicester City.
The reality of life under Maresca at City has, however, been markedly different to what those expectations might have suggested. The 25-year-old has not featured in a single Premier League minute under the Italian, managing only 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup and 15 minutes in the Champions League.
City's opening five Premier League victories have been achieved without Ait-Nouri registering so much as a substitute appearance in the top flight, a detail that speaks clearly to where he currently sits in Maresca's thinking.
Juventus to Renew Push in January as Playing Time Remains Elusive
As reported by Bianconera News and relayed by Sport Witness, Juventus attempted to address the situation in the summer, proposing a loan deal with a fee attached and the option to buy. City rejected the approach, unwilling to let a recently acquired defender leave on temporary terms so quickly after his arrival.
Ait-Nouri himself was understood to be open to the Juventus move given the lack of playing time he was receiving at the Etihad Stadium, but the clubs could not reach an agreement before the window closed.
Rayan Ait-Nouri has set his sights on becoming a greater goalscoring threat for Manchester City after netting two on the club's pre-season tour.cityxtra.co.ukRayan Ait-Nouri Sets Man City Goalscoring Target in New Interview
Rayan Ait-Nouri has set his sights on becoming a greater goalscoring threat for Manchester City after netting two on the club's pre-season tour.
The report further states that Juventus plan to renew their interest in the January transfer window, with the expectation that City's position could soften if Ait-Nouri's involvement between now and the winter break remains as peripheral as it has been in the opening months.
How much the Italian champions are willing to offer - and whether City will again resist a loan structure - are the variables that will determine whether the situation moves forward.
The report makes clear that Ait-Nouri's situation is one that will be subject to reassessment in the winter window, with his minutes count - or lack of one - over the coming months the primary factor in shaping City's willingness to sanction a departure.
What is Next for Ait-Nouri at Man City?
Maresca has shown no indication in press conferences or interviews that he regards Ait-Nouri as surplus to requirements, but the selection pattern tells its own story.
With the first international break of the 2026/27 season underway and the left-back yet to appear in the top-flight under his new manager, the path to regular minutes at the Etihad Stadium looks narrower than it did when the transfer was announced.
Juventus, operating in the Serie A title conversation this season, represent a significant destination for a player of Ait-Nouri's ability and age profile.
Whether the appeal of regular European football on loan outweighs City's reluctance to see another summer signing exit before he has been given a fair opportunity is the tension at the centre of a situation that has several months yet to run.
The international break provides a natural staging post for both player and club to assess where things stand. If Ait-Nouri returns from the Algeria camp and finds himself in the same position, watching from the fringes as City's first-choice defenders maintain their places, the momentum toward a January exit is likely to build rather than ease.
City face a busy autumn schedule that includes UEFA Champions League fixtures and a return of Premier League action in October, and Maresca will need to assess the depth of his options at left-back before the window reopens.