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Manchester City has opened exit discussions for one of its first-team players, just days after the Premier League ruled the club guilty of 114 charges tied to breaches of its financial regulations.
The verdict has cast doubt over the club’s immediate future, even though an appeal is expected. Speculation now surrounds every corner of the operation, and the timing could hardly be worse with a trip to face Liverpool looming once the international break ends.
Maresca Reshapes the Squad
Enzo Maresca’s start at Manchester City has been solid on the pitch despite a Community Shield defeat. His side has claimed 15 points from a possible 15 in the Premier League, advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, and opened its Champions League campaign with a win.
The Italian coach has quickly stamped his authority on the squad. Only two senior players have yet to make a Premier League appearance under him: backup goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Ait-Nouri’s Path to the Exit
Ait-Nouri joined City from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer but managed just 15 league appearances during Pep Guardiola’s final campaign in charge. Academy graduate Nico O’Reilly has since taken the left-back role ahead of him.
Maresca addressed the Algerian international’s role earlier this season, explaining his positional view of the player.
I see him more as a winger than full-back.
That assessment leaves Ait-Nouri fighting for a route into Maresca’s plans. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus have identified him as a target, and Sport Witness relayed that the Turin club has already approached his entourage.
They would like to offer an option to buy, with Ait-Nouri desperate to become a key player.
Part of Maresca’s early reluctance to integrate Ait-Nouri stemmed from his positional profile. The former Chelsea manager favors full-backs capable of inverting into midfield, a trait that doesn’t fit the Algerian’s natural game.
A move to Turin wouldn’t guarantee a starting role either. Andrea Cambiaso remains ahead of him in the pecking order at left-back.
A Costly Signing Struggling to Deliver
City paid a reported £31 million for Ait-Nouri. He traveled to the Club World Cup with the club last summer looking set to hold down the left-back spot as Josko Gvardiol shifted into a central role.
His time at Wolves was marked by an almost unblemished injury record. An ankle problem sidelined him for close to two months last autumn, and he never reclaimed his starting spot under Guardiola.
Transfermarkt values Ait-Nouri at €40 million, a figure that could shift depending on how negotiations with Juventus progress.
Read also: Manchester City Risk Losing Stars As Relegation Threat Grows
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