As the teams stepped out for Wolves’ clash with Crystal Palace at Molineux on Friday night, there was a universal reaction to anyone who wasn’t of the black and gold persuasion.
“Then who is Atif Noori?”
With Jonny Otto out for the long term, Ruben Vinagre in Greece and the increasingly prolific Romain Ciss perhaps not proving the most dynamic options, Nuno Espirito Santo decided it was 19-year-old Ryan Et Nori’s turn. . Acting as Wolves’ left wing back.
It took just 18 minutes for the teenager to repay Nuno’s faith as he struck the game’s opener dearly in a comfortable 2-0 victory for the hosts, and produced an assured performance overall.
His performance on Friday night suggests he’s a name we’ll probably be hearing a lot more of in 2020/21 with Jonny sidelined until the New Year, especially But when you take into account its rapid rise in the channel with Angers.
As such, let’s go a little deeper into the hugely talented France Under-21 international.
Rayan Aït-Nouri (2001, France) is in SCO Angers’ group to face RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1 at 8:00 pm
Professionnel depuis février dernier, le lateral gauche angevin est l’un des plus gros espoirs du foot français. Il est d’origine algeriene. pic.twitter.com/E6rxoJ2J9Y
– Espoirsdu football? (@EspoirsduFoot) April 7, 2018
Born and raised in Montreuil in the north of France, Et Nouri’s first big break on the football scene came at Paris FC, where he enjoyed two-year spells at AS Val de Fontenay and ASF in 2014. Joined after enjoying. Le Pereux 94.
However, when Axel Lablatinière, Angers’ then head of recruitment, spotted a 15-year-old Ait-Nouri strutting his stuff in a Paris youth centre, his career was catapulted into an alternative stratosphere.
Invited by Lablatinière to a youth tournament watched by a number of club staff, Ait-Nouri immediately impressed and Angers moved quickly to secure his services – with €5,000 to Paris FC. sent to
Long-time Angers coach Stephane Mullen has been key to Et Nori’s emergence at the French club / Xavier Lane / Getty Images
After purchasing the then Ligue 2 club in 2011, Saïd Chabane knew Angers needed a strong academy to climb the French football ranks.
As such, the club opened its academy in 2013 with brand new facilities and Ait-Nouri – after his 2016 arrival – became only the second player to be brought through the new training center which has been used by Angers in Ligue 1. Made his debut in the match, making an eight-minute cameo in a 3–1 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.
Ait-Nouri’s rapid rise has been a celebration of the French club’s youth policy, spearheaded by manager Stephane Moulin, with Angers’ philosophy designed to facilitate youth growth and development from top to bottom. Is.
Ait-Nouri will choose between France and Algeria on the international stage/PASCAL GUYOT/Getty Images
At Nouri represented France Under-18s on ten occasions before making five caps for the country’s Under-21s.
He made his debut for Sloane Ripoll in a friendly against Albania last September aged just 18 and was recently apart of the squad that won a pair of European Championship qualifiers earlier this month. I beat Liechtenstein and Slovakia.
Despite his pace that Et Nouri could one day become a regular member of the senior French squad, as his name suggests, he is also of Algerian descent and is eligible to represent the North African nation he A choice must be made.
Ait-Nouri has previously spoken proudly of his heritage.
The young man is represented by Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes/Jack Taylor/Getty Images
well duh
Signing Aït-Nouri was the first dip into lesser-known French clubs for Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes, who seemingly represents every single Wolves player.
The connection was made through an intermediary agent and brother of Napoli full-back Sherif Ghulam, who is a friend of Angers director Abdel Bouhzama.
Reports emerged in September that Mendes was trying to move his client to Manchester United but the Red Devils expressed concerns over Ait-Nouri’s minimal experience and politely declined.
He also came close to agreeing a deal with Crystal Palace in January, only for the incoming full-back to pick up a major jaw injury in a clash with Nice.
The super-agent was ultimately successful, however, with Wolves agreeing an initial loan deal with an option for £20m at the end of the campaign, one of which the West Midlanders would be required to activate.
Ait-Nouri is one of the most promising youngsters the continent has to offer / FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images
His brief cameo against PSG was the first of eight in just 53 minutes of Ligue 1 action in 2018/19.
However, he would quickly go on to reach new heights and emerge as one of French football’s brightest talents next season.
While playing in a team respected for their strength no doubt helped hone his defensive nerves considerably, it’s Ait-Nouri’s attacking intangibles that help him stand out from the crowd. are
As he showed on his Wolves debut, the confident 19-year-old boasts excellent technique and particularly excels in crossing situations. With left-backs often in front of him, Et Nouri was given license to move into the final third under Moulin where his distinct composure and shrewd decision-making came to the fore.
The teenager is also extremely athletic and could be a useful outlet for Wolves in transition.
Overall, there is a general feeling that the Premier League club have stumbled upon an absolute steal in Ait-Nouri.