Four clubs including European super club held interest in Rico Lewis before Man City contract agreement | OneFootball

A new report has revealed that Nottingham Forest were not alone in their transfer interest regarding Manchester City’s Rico Lewis this summer.

Lewis has long been regarded as one of the standout talents to emerge from Manchester City’s Academy in recent years, establishing himself under Pep Guardiola with his unique ability to play as both a full-back and an inverted midfielder.

That level of tactical adaptability has not only seen him cement a role in Pep Guardiola’s system but also attract transfer attention from across Europe and throughout the Premier League.

City’s transfer strategy with their Academy products has become clearer in recent windows. The club are prepared to entertain interest in younger players if it aligns with their squad planning, but they almost always now insist on clauses that protect their long-term control.

James McAtee, for example, has left for Nottingham Forest permanently this summer but with buy-back and sell-on clauses in the deal, while Claudio Echeverri has departed on a straightforward loan to Bayer Leverkusen.

Lewis, however, has reached a stage where Manchester City see his long-term place firmly within the first-team setup. Guardiola has spoken repeatedly about Lewis’ intelligence and bravery in possession, and that reputation has not gone unnoticed elsewhere.

As detailed by MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, Nottingham Forest and Bayer Leverkusen were both interested in Rico Lewis, while Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich had been tracking the 20-year-old ‘for a while’.

Elsewhere in the Premier League and Brighton & Hove Albion were always interested in the versatile defender, although the report states that the south coast club’s model would not allow for inserting a buyback clause – a non-negotiable for Manchester City in any deal.

Instead, Manchester City’s breakthrough in talks with Lewis over a new agreement until the summer of 2030 signals just how central he is to Pep Guardiola’s squad evolution.

With the futures of senior defenders such as Manuel Akanji attracting speculation, Lewis could be afforded even greater responsibility this campaign. His technical level allows Guardiola to rotate with minimal disruption, while his homegrown status adds further value.

Looking forward, Rico Lewis’ development could mirror that of Phil Foden; another Academy graduate who resisted external interest to become an established star at the Etihad Stadium.

If he continues on his current trajectory, he may soon become the long-term heir to the throne left behind by Kyle Walker following the long-stand right-back’s move to Burnley after an initial six-month loan at AC Milan during the second-half of last season.

What is clear now is that Manchester City have rebuffed interest from some of Europe’s biggest names to secure Rico Lewis’ long-term future. With Bayern Munich and others circling, his decision to remain loyal to Pep Guardiola’s project could prove defining in the next chapter of City’s rebuild.