One of Manchester City’s greatest-ever players has offered his thoughts on his former club’s transfer business when it came to strengthening their outfield positions.As City prepare for the new se...
One of Manchester City’s greatest-ever players has offered his thoughts on his former club’s transfer business when it came to strengthening their outfield positions.
As City prepare for the new season under the continued leadership of Pep Guardiola, transfer activity at the Etihad Stadium has drawn attention not just from analysts and fans, but also from club legends.
This summer’s outfield arrivals – Rayan Cherki from Lyon, Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, and Wolves’ Rayan Aït-Nouri – are all seen as strategic signings to address recent departures and maintain City’s competitive edge across multiple competitions.
A key backdrop to City’s transfer work this summer has been the exit of Kevin De Bruyne, who made the decision to join Serie A champions Napoli after Etihad officials opted not to offer him a contract extension into the 2025/26 campaign.
De Bruyne’s creativity and leadership in the final third has been a defining feature of the Guardiola era, and replacing that output presented a considerable challenge for the club’s recruitment strategy, although the additions of technically-gifted and tactically intelligent midfielders have been interpreted as a direct response.
Additionally, the exit of Kyle Walker to Burnley, following several seasons as Manchester City’s first-choice right-back and club captain last term, has shaped the narrative around how the team is evolving tactically.
City are believed to be in the market for a long-term successor at right-back, while some figures inside the club view the arrival of Aït-Nouri as an opportunity to improve their versatility on the opposite flank and adapt their full-back usage in the absence of Walker’s elite one-on-one defending.
Speaking during his latest conversation with Stake.com, legendary former striker Sergio Aguero issued glowing reviews of all of City’s three summer outfield signings, believing that they could go a long way to making up for the loss of De Bruyne from the forthcoming season.
“I’m fond of them,” the legendary Argentine striker admitted. “[Rayan] Cherki is skillful and combines solid finishes with keen game awareness – things that should be very valuable with Kevin [De Bruyne] gone.”
The former Manchester City forward continued, “[Tijjani] Reijnders brings that Dutch school balance to the team as a box-to-box player. And [Rayan] Ait-Nouri can be a dogged marker and an offensive asset both. All very fine signings, I believe.”
Discussing the exit of Kyle Walker – a legendary figure of Manchester City’s achievements under Pep Guardiola and a former teammate of Sergio Aguero – the now-retired striker said, “Kyle is a quality player, I’m sure he’s picked Burnley for a reason.
“The team is contesting in the Premier League, and his experience is certainly going to be useful to the team.”
Aguero’s comments come during a pivotal transitional summer for City, as Hugo Viana and the recruitment department look to freshen up the squad while keeping the core competitive. With Mateo Kovacic still recovering from injury and Ilkay Gündoğan edging toward the end of his City career, the need for midfield depth and progression has been an internal priority.
The decision to land Reijnders was considered particularly significant, with the Dutchman’s box-to-box athleticism and technical security viewed as compatible with Pep Guardiola’s fluid shape and in-possession demands. Rayan Cherki, meanwhile, has long been admired within the club as a high-ceiling talent, and his versatility across the front will give the manager new creative options, especially with uncertainty still surrounding Jack Grealish’s long-term role.
As for Rayan Aït-Nouri, the 24-year-old Algerian international is seen as someone who can bring dynamism to Manchester City’s left flank, particularly with Joško Gvardiol expected to feature centrally more regularly this season.
Looking ahead, the big question remains how swiftly these new additions can adapt to Manchester City’s high-performance environment and Pep Guardiola’s tactical expectations. With the Premier League opener approaching, Aguero’s optimism is a welcome endorsement, but it will of course be the players themselves who must now deliver on that promise.
Category: General Sports
