Rayan Ait-Nouri’s father reveals how Man City playing time sparked Algeria row

Rayan Ait-Nouri’s father has revealed that the Manchester City defender’s problems with Algeria may have started weeks before his controversial departure from the national-team camp, with his limited playing time at club level reportedly at the centre of the initial disagreement.

The 25-year-old was released from Algeria duty on September 26, a day after the Fennecs beat Zambia 3-1 in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Ait-Nouri had remained on the bench before being sent to warm up twice without eventually entering the game, with his frustration subsequently becoming visible.

The incident escalated after an exchange involving members of the Algeria setup, and the Algerian Football Federation confirmed that Ait-Nouri had left the camp. However, an account attributed to his father, Farouk Ait-Nouri, suggests the relationship between the player and the national-team setup had already become strained.

Man City playing time reportedly triggered first dispute

According to El Khabar journalist Rafik Ouahid, Farouk told him that the first disagreement dates back to August 22 and involved Anthar Yahia, the former Algeria captain who later joined Brahim Hemdani’s coaching staff.

At the time, Hemdani had not yet been appointed Algeria manager. Yahia reportedly tried to contact Ait-Nouri directly to discuss his situation at Manchester City, but after receiving no response, he contacted the player’s father instead.

Yahia allegedly informed Farouk that Ait-Nouri’s lack of playing time at City could affect his chances of being selected for Algeria’s September camp. The timing reportedly angered the defender’s father, who felt the issue was being raised at the beginning of the season, when his son’s situation at City was still developing.

Importantly, the reported conversation was between Yahia and Farouk, rather than between Yahia and the Manchester City defender himself. The account therefore does not establish that Ait-Nouri personally entered into a dispute with Yahia at that stage.

Father insists son was ‘unfairly treated’

Farouk has since confirmed that he spoke to Ouahid, while attempting to play down the wider controversy surrounding his son.

“I do not want this matter to become too serious. We are Algerians and we love Algeria like anyone else,” he said, while maintaining that his son had been “unfairly treated”.

His comments have added another layer to a dispute that has produced competing accounts since the Zambia match.

Ait-Nouri’s lack of minutes at Manchester City was a genuine issue around the period of the reported August conversation, with the defender having initially struggled to secure regular involvement before making his competitive appearance of the season from the bench against Porto in the Champions League.

That context is now significant because his club situation reportedly became the subject of discussion with his family before Hemdani had taken charge of Algeria.

Zambia clash brings tension into public view

The dispute became public during the September 25 meeting with Zambia.

Hemdani opted to start Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jaouen Hadjam at left-back, leaving Ait-Nouri among the substitutes. The Manchester City player was sent out to warm up but was not introduced, with reports saying he was subsequently asked to warm up again before remaining on the bench.

What happened next has been disputed.

Some reports have suggested that Ait-Nouri refused to continue warming up after the coach changed his plans, while other accounts have questioned aspects of the footage and narratives that circulated online. The FAF confirmed his departure from the camp but did not publicly provide a detailed account of the confrontation.

There have also been differing reports over whether Ait-Nouri himself requested to leave the camp or whether the decision came from the technical staff.

Ait-Nouri set to give his version

The controversy could take another turn when Ait-Nouri is expected to address the matter himself after Algeria’s friendly against Niger on October 6.

Several Algerian reports say the defender plans to speak publicly and provide his account of the events, which could help clarify a dispute that has so far been shaped largely by statements from people around him and reports from local media.

There are also reports that Hemdani and Yahia could demand an apology before considering Ait-Nouri for a return to the national team, although that position has not been publicly confirmed by the Algerian federation.

For now, his father’s account has changed the timeline of the controversy. What appeared to centre solely on the events against Zambia may have been preceded by weeks of tension, with Ait-Nouri’s uncertain role at Manchester City reportedly providing the first spark.

The full picture, however, remains incomplete until the player himself gives his version of what happened.