Rayan Ait-Nouri Seeks Departure from Manchester City amid Interest from Italian Clubs
Rayan Ait-Nouri, 25, is looking to leave Manchester City during the upcoming January transfer window, according to Franco-Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri. The former SCO Angers defender has attracted attention from two Serie A heavyweights, Juventus and Napoli.
Ait-Nouri joined Manchester City from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2025. Despite starting strong, his performance declined significantly, and this season he has made only four appearances across all competitions, totaling a mere 168 minutes on the pitch. The Algeria international currently finds himself behind Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly in the team’s hierarchy under coach Enzo Maresca.
An exit appears to be a priority, as Ait-Nouri’s representatives recently informed L’Équipe, stating, “We have to find the best solution with Manchester City. He can’t remain in a situation where his talent is wasted.”
A transfer to Italy seems plausible, with Juventus and Napoli expressing interest. While Manchester City prefers a permanent transfer, financial constraints may prevent the Serie A clubs from agreeing to this arrangement. Instead, a loan deal with an obligatory buy option, contingent on certain conditions, is viewed as a more feasible scenario.
