Rayan Ait-Nouri reveals Pep Guardiola advice days after making £37m Man City transfer

Rayan Ait-Nouri has been given a new “freedom” at Manchester City with a target to win trophies. Incredibly, Ait-Nouri is the first major signing as a conventional left back since Benjamin Mendy joined from Monaco in the summer of 2017.

While others have played there like Nathan Ake, Joško Gvardiol and even Fabian Delph, Ait-Nouri is a natural in the role and is determined to make the most of Pep Guardiola’s licence to thrill instructions.

Aït-Nouri, 24, who joined from Wolves in a £37m deal, has already impressed in the Club World Cup and the Algeria full back says City can be the best team in the world on their day.

City boss Guardiola has told him to attack, get forward and Aït-Nouri says he can improve his game and win trophies after his move to the Etihad.

Aït-Nouri said: “He has told me to play my game without pressure. You know, drive with the ball, cross also in the box. I try to respect the advice he gives me. Hopefully we'll be good for the next few stages.

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“It was freedom. I'm very happy to play like this, without the pressure. I like to drive the ball to the post for the striker. It's part of my game right now.”

Ait-Nouri is one of City’s big new signings and the signal of a new era at the Etihad as they have spent nearly £300m in 2025 and have eight new boys coming into the squad.

It is designed for City to be back challenging for the major trophies and Ait-Nouri says the biggest draw for him was to work with Guardiola.

Ait-Nouri said: “It's a big honour. I can improve a lot with him. We saw in the last few years he made a lot of things. He wins every time with this team. He's the best manager, but I'm very happy to work with him. For sure I will improve my football.”

Tijjani Reijnders has arrived for £46m transfer from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki was a big-money deal for £30.5m from Lyon on top of the likes of Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Claudio Echeverri arrived in January.

Those players have all featured in the United States and Ait-Nouri says working with them and the likes of Erling Haaland and Co can help City prove they are still the No1 in the world. City smashed six past Al Ain but they still need to beat Juventus on Thursday to top their Group in the Club World Cup.

Ait-Nouri added: “It’s very good for me. We know Erling is a great player, he makes a lot of things for the football. For sure, it's good to play with him, and to play also with the other players. It’s the best team in the world on its good game.

“We were very excited to play together. They also made a very good first game. We play our game, you know. We try to score a lot of goals. We try to defend also together. We scored six goals, it's good also for the confidence. Hopefully we'll continue like this.”

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