Juventus Readying Prompt January Loan Approach for Out-of-Favour Manchester City Star

Juventus Readying Prompt January Loan Approach for Out-of-Favour Manchester City Star Rayan Ait-Nouri could be set to leave Manchester City as early as January 2027 The 25-year-old arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Wolverhampton Wanderers in June 2025 on a five-year deal running until summer of 2030 for a reported initial fee of £31 million with £5.3 million in add-ons. The left-back made his Manchester City debut in their FIFA Club World Cup group-stage win over Al Ain that month, followed by making his Premier League debut for the club in their opening game of the season against his former side Wolves in August 2025. Then the Algeria international sustained an ankle injury in September last year, missing about 13 games for club and country. Ait-Nouri subsequently fell behind in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order, starting in 20 out of his 28 appearances across all competitions in the previous campaign, during which he registered five assists. Following his 17 appearances and less than 1000 minutes on the pitch in the top flight last season, there has not been a shift in Ait-Nouri’s game time in the ongoing campaign under head coach Enzo Maresca. The defender is yet to feature in a Premier League match in the 2026-27 campaign, leading to speculation that the Angers graduate could potentially consider a move away from Manchester City for game time in the near future. According to a report by Tuttomercatoweb’s Niccolo Ceccarini , as relayed by Sport Witness , the Italian side are prioritising the addition of a left-back to their squad in January and are considering Ait-Nouri as a top target in the role. Juventus director Ricky Massara and CEO Giovanni Carnevali have assessed the former Wolves star’s situation at City and believe they can utilise it in their favour to secure the player’s services. The report further suggested that the Serie A giants are ‘ready to move immediately’ for Ait-Nouri, and intend to propose an initial loan deal with an option to buy if Manchester City are open to parting ways with the player. Ait-Nouri arrived at Manchester City after turning heads with his impressive displays for Wolves, with 12 goals and 19 assists in 157 appearances across all competitions. Despite his lack of game time in the top flight, the left-back has proved his capability of performing at the highest level, as he featured in every game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for Algeria. While he might seek a departure from the Etihad Stadium in the near future for improved opportunities on the pitch, Juventus could end up not being the defender’s next destination, as he could attract better offers from other top English clubs. As for City, if Maresca’s side decides to part ways with Ait-Nouri with about four more years left on his contract, they would opt for a deal that favours them the most over Juventus’ offer, which may not guarantee a permanent transfer. The left-back recently featured in Manchester City’s 4-3 win on penalties against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup fourth round by coming off the bench at the beginning of the second half. After providing three assists in four matches in the Carabao Cup and UEFA Champions League so far this season, it remains to be seen if Ait-Nouri makes his first 2026-27 Premier League appearance in their Premier League clash with the Seagulls at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.