Rayan Aït-Nouri targets more goals after opening Manchester City account

Rayan Aït-Nouri says he wants to score more regularly after opening his Manchester City account in their 3-1 victory over the K-League All Stars during their pre-season tour of Asia.

The Algeria international started the match and marked the occasion with his first goal for City, giving him an early opportunity to make an attacking impact after joining the club from Wolverhampton in 2025.

Aït-Nouri admitted the goal has strengthened his desire to contribute more in the final third. Speaking to Manchester City’s official website, the defender was asked whether he wanted to become a more regular scorer.

“Yes, I would very much like to ,” he replied.

The left-back said scoring his first goal for the club was particularly significant because of the attacking qualities he wants to bring to his game.

“It was my first goal for City and it’s an aspect of the game I really enjoy. I’ve always tried to play offensively, but I don’t score every game,” he said.

Aït-Nouri is now looking beyond his first goal and wants to continue developing his contribution to the team.

“It’s an incredible feeling for me. I want to learn every day, to work harder and harder to contribute as much as possible to my game,” he added.

His goal came in difficult conditions in Seoul, where City played in temperatures of 36°C at kick-off. The match formed part of the club’s preparations for the new campaign and provided Aït-Nouri with another opportunity to adapt to the demands of pre-season football.

The Algerian acknowledged the physical challenge presented by the conditions but said the experience was valuable.

“To be honest, it was a difficult match because the conditions were very different from those we are used to in Europe. It was very hot, but it was a great experience to play in such a famous stadium, in front of our Korean fans,” Aït-Nouri admitted.

City will next face Atlético de Madrid as their pre-season preparations continue. Aït-Nouri believes the meeting with the Spanish side will provide another useful test ahead of the new season.

“We really enjoy playing these kinds of matches against one of the best teams in Europe. It will help us prepare well for next season ,” he concluded.