Rayan Ait-Nouri reveals why Manchester City opportunity was too good to turn down | OneFootball

Manchester City’s new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri has given his initial thoughts on his move to the Etihad Stadium from Wolves.

The 24-year-old has penned a five-year contract with the 2023 treble winners that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2029/30 season, with City paying Wolves an initial £31.7 million that could rise to £33.7 million depending on add-ons.

Ait-Nouri is the first piece of Manchester City’s transfer business in the ongoing summer transfer window and is likely to witness a trio of Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli and Rayan Cherki following him through the doors of the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Reijnders passed a medical in Manchester over the weekend and City will soon confirm the Dutchman’s signing, having also reached agreements to sign Cherki and Bettinelli from Lyon and Chelsea respectively, aiming for the pair to be registered for the FIFA Club World Cup.

Upon the completion of his transfer, Ait-Nouri said, “I am very, very happy and I’m very proud to join Manchester City and my family are very proud too,” as quoted by the club’s official website.

“For sure, it is a very good day and I can’t wait to play with the shirt. It was an easy decision (to join Manchester City).”

Left-back is an area Manchester City have needed to strengthen for many years, with the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji filling in to cover the position in recent seasons after Oleksandr Zinchenko joined Arsenal in 2022.

“To be honest, my choice was Manchester City in the beginning – what I said with my family, I want to play for this team – I like how they play,” Ait-Nouri added.

“I am very happy to be here – it is a big pleasure for me. We know the team and they have shown the last few years they were the best team in the world.

“The players are amazing and the coach also; it will be a pleasure to train with Pep Guardiola. I can’t wait. I have come here to learn and show also what I can do, and I will give my best.”

Rayan Ait-Nouri has his best years ahead of him and is excited to have joined forces with Pep Guardiola, who is widely renowned as a footballing mastermind owing partly to the work he does to make his full-backs better, all-round players.

The Algeria international said, “I am very excited to work with Pep (Guardiola). For me, he is the best coach in the world. The football he has made with this team is incredible. For sure, I am very excited.

“I want to learn with him (Guardiola) and to work with him and with my team-mates also. The most important thing is I will give everything for the shirt.

“It’s the same league and the same country, it’s not far – the weather is the same! (I think) It will be easier for me (to adapt) because I have been here for a long time in England.

“I know the league also. But for sure it will be a new challenge with amazing players and an amazing coach. I can’t wait to train with the team.”