Rayan Ait-Nouri on the brink: How Manchester City outcast can win over Enzo Maresca and revive his career

Rayan Ait-Nouri faces a defining period in his Manchester City career as limited opportunities under Enzo Maresca threaten to derail his progress, but the Algerian defender still has a chance to fight his way back into contention.

The summer signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers has struggled for regular playing time, managing just three appearances this season. His latest outing came as a substitute against AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League, where he played 20 minutes after City had already secured the result.

The situation looks increasingly worrying for Ait-Nouri, who has yet to feature in the Premier League this season and was left out of the matchday squads for the trips to Manchester United and Liverpool.

Even City’s recent rotation against Ipswich Town and AEK Athens offered little encouragement, with Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and academy graduate Floyd Samba receiving opportunities while the Algerian remained on the fringes.

However, Ait-Nouri’s previous experience under Pep Guardiola offers a reminder that his current predicament need not define his future at the Etihad Stadium.

Nico O’Reilly’s rise complicates Ait-Nouri’s chances

Ait-Nouri arrived from Wolves in June 2025 with considerable expectations, becoming City’s first specialist left-back signing since Angelino in 2019.

Although Josko Gvardiol had impressed in the position and Nico O’Reilly had shown promise, Ait-Nouri was expected to compete for a regular starting role after establishing himself as an attack-minded defender in the Premier League.

He started three of City’s four matches at the FIFA Club World Cup and featured in their opening three Premier League games of the 2025/26 campaign before an ankle injury sidelined him from September until late October.

During his absence, O’Reilly seized the opportunity to establish himself at left-back, producing performances that ultimately earned him City’s Player of the Year award and the PFA Young Player of the Year accolade.

With O’Reilly continuing to impress and Gvardiol also competing for the position, Ait-Nouri faces a difficult challenge to reclaim his place.

Guardiola revival offers hope under Maresca

Ait-Nouri has already demonstrated that he can recover from a difficult spell at City.

After spending much of the second half of 2025 on the fringes, he benefited from an injury crisis that forced O’Reilly back into midfield, allowing him to reclaim the left-back position.

Between January 20 and March 17, 2026, Ait-Nouri started 12 of City’s 15 matches across all competitions. His run ended when O’Reilly returned to the left side of defence and scored twice in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

Although he subsequently returned to a rotational role, that spell demonstrated his ability to seize an opportunity when circumstances worked in his favour.

The challenge now is to convince Maresca that he deserves another chance. His previous success under Guardiola suggests he should not be written off simply because a teammate has overtaken him in the pecking order.

Maresca sees a different role for Ait-Nouri

Maresca has offered a possible route back into the team by indicating that he sees Ait-Nouri “more as a winger than a full-back”.

The Italian has already deployed him in an attacking role, including from the start against Norwich City and as a substitute against Porto and AEK Athens. Ait-Nouri has registered three assists across those appearances.

His attacking qualities have never been in doubt. During his time at Wolves, he established himself as an aggressive, adventurous player capable of carrying the ball forward and creating chances.

He has also produced promising moments in City’s colours, including an assist for Rayan Cherki against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final, a setup for Antoine Semenyo’s winner against Leeds and two goals during pre-season.

However, competition for attacking positions remains fierce. Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Iliman Ndiaye are among the options Maresca can call upon, making it difficult for Ait-Nouri to secure a regular place.

Antoine Semenyo’s recent injury could create an opening, but the Algerian must make the most of any opportunity that comes his way.

Patience could determine his City future

The Carabao Cup meeting with Brighton could provide Ait-Nouri with another chance to impress, although City’s demanding Champions League schedule presents a tougher prospect.

Matches against RB Leipzig, Napoli and Barcelona will leave little room for experimentation, while the January transfer window could offer an alternative if his situation fails to improve.

Ait-Nouri must therefore remain patient, work to meet Maresca’s demands and demonstrate that his attacking ability can translate into consistent performances.

A departure in the new year remains a possibility if he cannot secure regular minutes. However, his previous revival under Guardiola provides evidence that a turnaround is possible.