Rayan Ait-Nouri celebrates during Manchester City’s FA Cup victory vs Salford City last weekend(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri has revealed how he spoke with fellow Algeria international and former Blues winger Riyad Mahrez before deciding to move to the Etihad Stadium last summer. Ait-Nouri was one of the standout players for Wolverhampton Wanderers last season as he notched an impressive four goals and seven assists in the Premier League despite the team struggling.
His exit from Molineux was expected with the 24-year-old in demand. Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal were all linked with Ait-Nouri, but he eventually chose to move to City for a fee of £36.3m.
Ait-Nouri struggled to find his feet in Manchester. After starting all three of City’s opening Premier League games of the season, an ankle injury kept him out of the team for the entirety of September and October. Once he returned, he had lost his place to Nico O’Reilly, who impressed at left-back.
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Ait-Nouri made just two Premier League cameos before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Algeria. While the tournament ended in quarter-final disappointment for his nation, the defender rediscovered his form and has now regained the left-back spot with O’Reilly pushed up into the midfield.
Speaking in an interview with Tribuna, Ait-Nouri explained the role Mahrez played in ensuring he chose City over other clubs. “I talked a lot with him, even when I was at Wolverhampton,” he explained. “And of course, at City, he told me about the club and the city. Everything he told me was true.
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“He told me the city was great, that we’d be warmly welcomed in the dressing room, that everyone was really nice… and that’s exactly what I found when I arrived.”
Ait-Nouri’s quality has been recognised by his teammates. Speaking after the win vs Fulham, O’Reilly said: “I enjoy playing anywhere really in this team. The team is amazing. Rayan is doing so good at left-back as well. So I don’t mind if I’m left back, attacking midfielder, CDM, anywhere. I don’t mind.”
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