Manchester City fans would be forgiven for forgetting that left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri is still on the roster. He was only acquired in 2025 and played in 17 matches (with 12 starts) in Premier League play, but this season? Not much. He reportedly wants out because of it.
Who can blame him? He went from playing all the time with the Wolverhampton Wanderers to not appearing in a league match this season. This is the case even though City has struggled defensively. One might assume that Enzo Maresca would give the Algerian international a chance to correct some of the club's issues.
Why he isn't getting a chance is unclear, other than that Maresca clearly thinks Nico O'Reilly and Josko Gvardiol put the club in a better position to win. That hasn't been the case recently, as City began with seven straight Premier League wins but has dropped their last three.
Rayan Ait-Nouri seems a couple of months away from leaving Manchester City
According to Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sports, Ait-Nouri wants to leave during the January transfer window and go to a club where he can actually get minutes. The Algerian has not played at all in league play and has only seen a total of 168 minutes in Champions League and Carabao Cup matches.
He does have three assists in that time, so why he isn't performing in league matches is even more confusing. Is it system fit or attitude? One cannot be sure unless they are involved in the inner workings of the club. When City struggles, less-used players should get a chance, but Ait-Nouri isn't.
Instead, the 25-year-old could find his way to Juventus or Napoli on loan. Manchester City would rather the player be permanently transferred, but that seems unlikely. Instead, should Ait-Nouri leave, he would probably do so in a rent-to-own scenario.
That would ultimately be a win for all involved. The player would go somewhere he can get valuable minutes and make a real impact on winning and losing; the club acquiring him would be improved by his performances, and Manchester City could recoup some potential financial losses due to any sanctions involved in allegedly breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
What would be better for the Blues is if, after the current international break, Rayan Ait-Nouri gets a chance to play and elevates the form of a struggling club. Enzo Maresca might be forced to give him a chance because maybe the Algerian can figure out the defensive fix that no other City player can currently.
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