Ait-Nouri in focus: BBC Radio Wolves expert analyses new City full-back | OneFootball

We this week spoke to BBC Radio WM’s Wolves correspondent, Mike Taylor, to discuss our new summer signing, Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Mike has watched Rayan at close-quarters for the past five years so he’s in a good position to give his verdict on the strengths of the Algerian ace.

City: How good a signing for City is Rayan?

Mike: Potentially, very good indeed.  Ait-Nouri has been at Wolves for five years – a long time these days for a player obviously on the rise to stay in one place – so it seems slightly strange to still class him as promising, rather than fully established.

But there is every reason to think that his reputation will continue to grow, in surroundings which are likely to show off his best qualities more frequently.

He has been at a club which has been through some difficult times on the field over the last few years, but he has often contributed to their best work during that time, and will be stronger for those experiences.

Playing in a stronger team may release him to express himself more often.

City: Talk about his development during his time at Wolves?

Mike: He arrived at 19, having played a little bit of top-flight football in France with Angers, but moving to the Premier League, and a new country, at that age – and in the particularly weird surroundings of the lockdown season – must have been an enormous challenge.

Scoring on his first appearance made for a happy start, but it was no surprise that his performances were uneven at first.

Wolves were nevertheless content to make the loan a permanent move, and it seemed he would be a regular presence in the team from then on.

His fortunes faded in 2023 under the management of Julen Lopetegui, who felt others were better equipped for the style of play he had in mind.

But Gary O’Neil and later Vitor Pereira found roles better suited to him, and he has started whenever fully fit over the last two Premier League seasons.

City: What kind of player are City getting in Rayan?

Mike: The best of Ait-Nouri is his confidence carrying the ball at close quarters, and his keen running whenever afforded room.

When you spotted him hovering as Wolves gained possession, waiting for the gap to appear, you kept watching; like a greyhound as the traps open, he seemed to need only one stride to accelerate to full pace, running in direct lines towards the corner-flag or the near post.

City: What are his strongest attributes on the pitch?

Mike: His pace is obvious at all times, but crucially it is his pace with the ball that marks him out.  Often, during his time at Wolves, the team has been attacking from deep – either because they were set up to naturally absorb pressure and counter-attack, or had simply been starved of possession – but these situations seemed most favourable to him.

The point of difference between an in-form Ait-Nouri and some of his type in the Premier League is where he runs to – directly, wherever possible.

Ait-Nouri at his best was always more likely to try to beat a defender than avoid him, or merely pass the ball backwards.

City: Seems an attack-minded full-back - is that fair?

Mike: Yes, wing-back has appeared the most natural fit for his talents, but full-back in a team that regularly enjoys possession most of the time should suit him just fine.

He also made a couple of interesting showings as a right-sided attacker, a useful variation!

City: By quirk of fate, City face Wolves on the opening day - adds a bit of spice to his Premier League debut for the club?

Mike: Of course!  It certainly will for Wolves supporters, although the general tone of their comments after he left was of gratitude for his efforts for the club rather than any bitterness towards him for leaving.

And the nature of the modern game is that – especially with the deal having happened so early in the summer, even before the Club World Cup – he will have had quite a few outings in a City shirt by then, and Wolves will be occupied with studying whichever new signings they’ve made.

I think the Molineux crowd will show him respect.  And then they’ll hope his new team loses, obviously.

City: Confident he’ll do well in the sky blue shirt?

MT: Yes, I think there is a good chance he will.  Over the last year he has looked like a player who might have a very high ceiling to his ability, and coming into a club with Manchester City’s recent record would give any player the confidence to think he could be part of some really major achievements.

We will see how he is deployed, but it’s possible that City will play in a style that magnifies his strengths.

It’s great to be a winner, and great to be an entertainer, and with the right platform Ait-Nouri may prove himself to be both.