Juventus are preparing a new approach for Ryan Ait-Nouri in January after the Manchester City defender struggled for regular football this season. Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Italian publication reports that “Juventus” has already contacted the Algerian football player’s entourage to find out whether he is ready for the winter move. It’s not the first time the Bianconeri have hovered around Ait-Nouri: he was a target for both Juventus and Milan last year, and returned with a concrete offer in the summer before Juve opted to stay at the Etihad.
An ineffective move
The decision to stay in Manchester did not work out for Ait-Nuri. He has been restricted to 105 minutes of action this season, with Nico O’Reilly on the left and Josko Guardiol also mixed in again under Enzo Maresca.
Despite the lack of minutes, the left-back still managed three assists, including in City’s Champions League opener away to Porto. Gazzetta dello Sport note that City, aware of how little he has played, could now be open to a loan with an option to buy rather than insisting on a permanent sale.
Why does “Juventus” need a left wing defender?
The interest corresponds to a clear need in Continassa. Juventus have been left without natural cover on the left as Andrea Cambiaso’s fitness problems and the absence of Juan Cabal have forced Luciano Spalletti to use natural right-back Zeki Celik. It’s a similar logic to Spalletti’s interest in Emerson Palmieri as another Premier League full-back option.
Ait-Nuri joined City from Wolverhampton Wanderers for €36.8m a year ago and any January deal is likely to depend on City’s willingness to negotiate below that cost given his lack of playing time. With Cambiaso’s long-term role also under discussion at Juventus, the club’s January left-back plan will remain a live issue until the window opens.