Alious
Wolves’ recent Premier League resurgence has cast a fresh light on the evolution of Rayan Ait-Nouri, whose performances have surged under Vitor Pereira’s guidance. As Wolves recorded their fourth league win with a statement victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Ait-Nouri’s mature, game-changing display stood out — a far cry from his earlier erratic form under former boss Gary O’Neil.
The Algerian international, once labeled “mad” by O’Neil due to his unpredictable style and tendency to overcomplicate plays, has seemingly turned a corner. Ait-Nouri opened the scoring and registered an assist against Spurs, taking his season tally to 10 goal contributions — more than any other defender in the Premier League this campaign. His 10 assists in total for Wolves also mark a new club record for a defender in the Premier League era.
Lee Naylor, former Wolves left-back, praised the 22-year-old for his newfound discipline and balance. “He’s gone away from the madness – the flicks in areas that he shouldn’t be doing stuff,” said Naylor. “Whether that’s down to maturity or the manager’s influence, you can see a real change in his play.”
That change comes after a shaky start to the 2024/25 season, when Ait-Nouri struggled in a traditional back four under O’Neil. Defensive lapses and positional issues made him a liability, despite showcasing immense technical skill. O’Neil himself admitted that while Ait-Nouri had extraordinary potential, he lacked tactical understanding and often let flair override function.
“We’re trying to take some of the madness out of him,” O’Neil had said. “He’s mad in the way he plays… but if we can just harness it a little bit, the sky’s the limit.”
Now operating more effectively as a wing-back in a system that better suits his strengths, Ait-Nouri is proving just how impactful he can be when combining flair with focus. His recent displays have shown him to be more defensively responsible, tactically aware, and far less prone to the frustrating overplaying that previously defined his game.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde recently claimed Ait-Nouri is now the Premier League’s best left-back — an assertion that’s no longer far-fetched. With Wolves now climbing the table and well clear of relegation trouble, the left-sided dynamo has emerged not just as a promising talent, but as a key figure in the club’s push toward a strong finish.
If his current trajectory continues, Wolves may soon have one of the league’s most well-rounded and dangerous full-backs on their hands — no longer wild, but wonderfully effective.
Alious
