Last week, we relayed a claim from Le Courrier de l’Ouest stating that Manchester City were interested in Angers’ young full-back Rayan Aït Nouri.
The 17-year-old was announced as being tracked by Monaco, who were trying the hardest, as well as Pep Guardiola’s side and Atlético Madrid, and there was a general understanding he could leave in the summer and be loaned back to the club for next season.
Of course, if they can avoid that and keep him at the club on a permanent basis for longer, then that’s what they’ll do, even if they know it will be hard.
For his manager at U17 level, Laurent Viaud, there was a period, prior to the youngster signing his first professional contract with the club, where he was afraid to put him on the pitch as he tried to hide his talent.
He said: “There are plenty of teams that are following him. We’re going to hear so much nonsense, but the most interested team will be the one who will offer the most. When I worked for Liverpool, I saw kids like Kurzawa, Kolodziejczak, and honestly, Rayan Aït Nouri is better than them at his age. I wish for him to at least have a similar career to then”.
We’ll have to wait and see what happens with the youngster, but if Manchester City, who appear keen to continue to bolster their academy, really want someone, then they’ll get him.
Just ask Paris Saint-Germain about Claudio Gomes.
