AliousMicah Richards Raves Over Wolves Ace Rayan Ait-Nouri—Calls Him One of Premier League’s Best in His Position
Despite Wolverhampton Wanderers falling to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City on Friday night, one Wolves player still managed to steal the spotlight—at least in the eyes of former England defender and Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards.
Vitor Pereira’s impressive unbeaten run as Wolves boss came to a halt at the Etihad, where the visitors showed moments of promise but ultimately failed to capitalize on their chances. The absence of injured forward Jorgen Strand Larsen was keenly felt, especially during a first-half in which Wolves squandered several golden opportunities. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde notably wasted a clear-cut chance to set up Marshall Munetsi for what could have been a simple tap-in.
Despite the defeat, Wolves put in a spirited display, with Pereira acknowledging the squad’s efforts against one of the most formidable opponents in English football. And one standout performer didn’t go unnoticed—left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Richards, speaking on Sky Sports after the match, heaped praise on the Algerian defender. “This man, Ait-Nouri. We talked about him before the game, Jamie,” he told co-pundit Jamie Carragher. “He’s one of my favourite full-backs in the league. Going forward, he’s absolutely sensational.”
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a resurgence in form in recent weeks after a shaky start to the season. While he missed a scoring opportunity against City, his attacking output this campaign has been remarkable—contributing to 11 goals in the Premier League, more than any other defender.
Ait-Nouri’s electric form hasn’t gone unnoticed beyond the punditry box. There’s growing speculation that the Wolves star could be on the move this summer, with interest from Premier League heavyweights like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City. Pundit Troy Deeney even suggested that Ait-Nouri’s current performances may be part of a push to secure a transfer away from Molineux.
With five years at Wolves under his belt this summer, the club’s ownership group, Fosun, may see this as the right time to cash in—especially with the player’s value soaring. However, Wolves must navigate a major financial complication: a 50% sell-on clause owed to Ait-Nouri’s former club Angers. Reports suggest that Wolves could buy out that clause for around £9.5 million, but whether they’ll choose to do so—or risk losing half of any transfer profit—remains to be seen.
For now, what’s clear is that Ait-Nouri’s star is rising fast, and with high-profile admirers like Micah Richards singing his praises, the summer transfer window could be a defining moment for both the player and his club.
Alious
