'what is ait-nouri doing? ' - from cast-off to £50m man as city seek transfer

WOLVES LEFT BACK RAYAN AIT-NOURI IS CLOSE TO A MOVE TO MANCHESTER CITY WITH BOTH CLUBS EXPECTING THE DEAL TO BE CONCLUDED 12:59, 03 Jun 2025 As Manchester City were closing in on an historic

treble in a season to remember, Rayan Ait-Nouri was watching Wolves games from the stands. The left-back is poised to become City's first signing this summer with the clubs set to

complete a £50million deal. It will cap a real renaissance for the 23-year-old who two years ago had been cast aside at Molineux. Then boss Julen Lopetegui omitted the left back from nine of

10 matchday squads between March and May 2023 with the Algeria international failing to play a single minute. Shortly before his exile, Ait-Nouri had been criticised for his role in

Newcastle's last minute winner against Wolves when he broke forward from defence to try and press the Magpies central defenders. Seconds later the ball was in the Wolves net with Miguel

Almiron utilising the space vacated by a rampaging Ait-Nouri to score. It prompted Jamie Carragher on co-commentary to lament: "What is Ait-Nouri doing?" The answer after that was

not much on a Saturday afternoon. He did get 45 minutes in a final day thrashing at Arsenal but there was a consensus that he would move on that summer, likely on an initial loan deal.

Article continues below Then Lopetegui got the boot and Gary O Neil arrived. Ait-Nouri was suddenly back in the fold and was revitalised, enjoying a stellar 2023-24 campaign that drew praise

from his manager and interest from top clubs. It continued last season with the Wolves man consistent, confident and capable. He has caught the attention of City, who have not signed a

specialist left back in eight years, and he will become the first arrival of a busy summer at the Etihad. Playing for Pep will be a new challenge but one Ait-Nouri will relish. Those who

have seen him up close speak of how much he has developed in the past couple of years both on and off the pitch. He's a bubbly character at the training ground, always wearing a smile.

He will fit into Guardiola's set-up with an ability to retain possession and progress the ball from deep. He has always enjoyed the attacking side of the game but defensively he's

improved in recent seasons, certainly since the criticism from Carragher, and has the capabilities to play in the inverted full back role City have used in recent times. He initially joined

Wolves on loan from Angers in France and the move was made permanent in 2021. He made his career debut against a star-studded PSG side with Kylian Mbappe to mark and Neymark to monitor.

"In the moment, that was surreal," he recalls. "I was watching them on TV and there I was defending against them! That was a dream but it's now a motivation."

Article continues below Growing up in France, Ait-Nouri learned his trade on the many 'city stadiums' in eastern Paris - small pitches littered across neighbourhoods where children

would go and play. Soon the enjoyment became a passion and then a profession. He came through at Angers and played age-group football for France before switching allegiance to Algeria in

2023. He'll likely be a key player in the Africa Cup of Nations this month. But before then will come a move to Manchester. At City, Ait-Nouri will know exactly what he is doing.