Rayan Aït-Nouri made a dazzling start to life at Manchester City with a standout performance in their 6-0 Club World Cup group win over Al Ain. The 24-year-old left-back, recently signed for £31 million from Wolves, looked every bit the Guardiola full-back – dynamic, intelligent, and fearless. Operating with electric pace and precision, Aït-Nouri followed his manager’s instructions to the letter: attack with freedom, drive forward with intent, and deliver with purpose.
“I was told to play my game without pressure,” Aït-Nouri said after the match. “Drive with the ball and deliver crosses – that’s exactly what I tried to do. It felt like freedom.” And the result was a performance full of energy and clarity, helping reignite a City side looking to bounce back after a subdued previous season.
City have lacked a true left-back since the troubled spell of Benjamin Mendy, and Guardiola has had to rotate makeshift options such as Cancelo, Zinchenko, Aké, and Gvardiol. Aït-Nouri’s arrival may finally solve that problem. His debut suggested that he offers the natural width and attacking flair City have missed on that flank for years.
Guardiola, visibly pleased with his new signing, praised his tactical versatility. “He defended well in a back four, shifted into a back five when needed, and moved seamlessly into midfield pockets. He’s smart, decisive, and knows how to create space in the final third.”
Aït-Nouri’s ability to adapt is especially valuable in City’s system, which demands that full-backs contribute both defensively and offensively. Against Al Ain, he showed not only positional intelligence but a deep understanding of how to exploit space and support the attack.
His link-up with Erling Haaland was another positive development. Though he didn’t notch an assist, Aït-Nouri’s runs and crosses were tailored for a striker of Haaland’s profile. “It’s good to play with Erling and the other guys – it’s the best team in the world when it plays at its best,” Aït-Nouri said. “I had a few chances to cross to him. That’s part of my game now.”
Alongside fellow new arrivals Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders – both of whom impressed in earlier group matches – Aït-Nouri is part of a refreshed City side aiming to defend their Club World Cup title. A convincing performance against Juventus in their final group game would secure top spot and avoid a tougher quarter-final tie.
For Aït-Nouri, this is only the beginning. If his debut is anything to go by, he may quickly become a mainstay in City’s lineup, offering the drive and dynamism the left flank has long lacked.
