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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who has worked with legends such as the Argentine maestro, Iniesta, and the midfield orchestrator, has declared that the French attacker ranks among the most talented footballers he has ever observed and believes the forward will adopt the unselfish ethos at the club.

Recovery Update

The 22-year-old, who signed for the Sky Blues from Lyon for £30.5m ahead of the Club World Cup in June, has made just seven outings up to now. Coming back from a thigh problem, he came on for a five-minute cameo in the 2-0 victory over Everton last matchday, where he came close to assisting a third for Haaland.

The player has made the trip for the Villarreal game potentially earn his UCL first appearance with City.

Coach’s View

While calling for patience, the manager struggled to articulate his talent, noting that the biggest doubt could be how he fits in within the setup and learns to executing basic actions effectively.

“Rayan is some of the greatest stars I’ve come across in my career,” stated the manager, showing amazement. “Technically and individually he is outstanding. The key is how he adapts and his understanding of play, what every action needs. He featured in the intercontinental cup, however he had time off. It’s about taking it slowly, but his talent is obvious: I feel that often when possession finds him, things get better.

“It’s not necessary for him to have to produce extraordinary things; he should simply make basic plays. Still, he owns something unique. Such as the assist for the striker against Everton, plus countless other things he executes.

“He is a player who doesn’t feel pressure in possession. He resembles a street footballer. He shows annoyance – ‘pass it to me’ – if he’s not involved, you know. It’s only been a brief period with us; it will take a bit as you have to play together.”

Questioned whether the Frenchman will adapt into the team ethos, he replied: “Absolutely. These kinds of players have great feel, highly intelligent. They notice all.”

Praise for Nico

The City manager likewise highlighted Nico, who is expected to start in the heart of the park. Rodri has travelled to his former club, and should be to be honoured ahead of the game at their stadium, though he misses out due to a muscle injury.

He commented: “I believe that González is getting better consistently. We are very pleased with his approach and he will keep getting better. He is refined, open-minded, a wonderful person. His family must be very pleased about the man and player he is. He has to remain authentic, yet while competing with elite teammates, you always learn. You realize how your performance elevates, but Nico must be Nico, without a doubt.”

Team’s Strong Form

He likewise expressed delight on the club’s current form. “We are scoring many goals, creating numerous openings, and we are letting in very few. It’s only eight Premier League matches and two on the continental stage, though I sense that every match tops the last and will be surpassed by the following.

“We discuss often what we can do better and methods to interpret play better. I have great trust in the squad and I know the individuals are putting in the effort. We are in excellent condition.”