Licence to thrill offers Ait-Nouri a Ray of hope

RAYAN AIT-NOURI has been told to play with “freedom” at Manchester City - and wants to repay Pep Guardiola by winning trophies.

- From John Cross in Atlanta

Incredibly, the Algeria star is the first starting left-back City have signed since Benjamin Mendy joined from Monaco in the summer of 2017.

Although others have played there, including Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol and even Fabian Delph, Ait-Nouri is a natural in the role and is determined to make the most of Guardiola’s licence-to-thrill instructions.

The 24-year-old, who joined from Wolves this month for £37million, has already impressed at the Club World Cup and claims City can be the best team on the planet on their day. Manager Guardiola has urged him to get forward and attack, and Ait-Nouri said: “He has told me to play my game without pressure.