Rayan Aït-Nouri’s beginning at Manchester City has shifted from a signing intended to resolve the left-back dilemma into an open transfer narrative after the Algerian international lost his place in manager Enzo Maresca’s plans.
The situation stems from a combination of circumstances, beginning with injuries and an absence for the Africa Cup of Nations, compounded by the strong performances of positional rivals capable of fulfilling the defensive responsibilities demanded by the coaching staff.
Aït-Nouri joined Manchester City from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2025 for £31 million plus add-ons that could elevate the total fee to approximately £36 million, signing a five-year contract through June 2030.
However, the full-back was limited to 17 Premier League appearances during an injury-disrupted first season. In the current campaign, he has found himself almost entirely excluded from the starting XI, logging just 105 minutes across the team’s opening seven matches in all competitions.
Ninety of those minutes came during a 5–0 victory against Norwich City in the EFL Cup, alongside a 15-minute substitute appearance in the UEFA Champions League. Crucially, he failed to feature for a single minute in the Premier League during that span.
Maresca prefers Nico O’Reilly at left-back, while Joško Gvardiol’s return offers a more robust defensive alternative—particularly in fixtures requiring the full-back to invert into central areas and build play as an additional center-back.
Juventus are closely monitoring the Algerian’s situation ahead of a potential fresh approach, having previously explored a loan move with an option to buy during the summer window. Reports indicate that the January window could serve as the timeline for a concrete bid, rather than waiting until the summer of 2027.
Manchester United had also inquired about a potential loan deal near the end of the summer transfer window, though Manchester City rejected the approach at the time. Aït-Nouri’s options appear confined to regaining Maresca’s trust, accepting a loan move in January, or securing a permanent transfer should an offer allow City to recoup a significant portion of their investment.
