On closer inspection, a Torino midfielder may be perfect for Manchester City

It is by now well known that Manchester City will be without Rodri for the remainder of this season. It will fall on players such as Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva to step into Rodri’s shoes. At least until the January transfer window opens. One player who has been named as a potential target for Manchester City is Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci. Jamie Jackson and Ron Draper have reported for the Irish Times that City are monitoring the Italian. But what type of player is Ricci and would he fit into Pep Guardiola’s squad? On closer inspection, he may based on the strengths of his game.

What are the strengths of Samuele Ricci’s game?

What stands out in the game of the Torino midfielder is his ability in possession. Ricci is cool and composed in possession and thrives as a deep-lying playmaker. So far he has shone in this role for Torino this season. Statistics sourced from whoscored.com show just how tidy Ricci is in possession. Ricci attempts 44.3 passes per game. He completes 92.9% of those passes which shows how good he is with the ball at his feet. He has shown this season that he is the heartbeat of Torino’s midfield. Based on his passing ability he appears to be a midfielder who could slot into Manchester City’s midfield. Ricci is also adept at carrying the ball in midfield which is another strong attribute of his play.

Another strength of Ricci’s game is his defensive work in midfield. He has a good ability to read the game and is adept at breaking up the play. Ricci’s ability to read the game and start counters for Torino or break up opponents’ attacks is a key feature of Torino’s play. All told Ricci appears to have the necessary attributes to slot into Manchester City’s midfield.

Weaknesses

On closer inspection, Samuele Ricci doesn’t offer a great deal going forward. He doesn’t offer a lot as a goal threat which is one weakness in his game. Ricci is also guilty of giving away possession on occasions but that is partly down to the role he plays for Torino.

But given the fact that he is 23 years of age, there is plenty of scope for Ricci to develop these aspects of his play.

Is Samuele Ricci a player that could one day slot into Manchester City’s midfield?

Based on the obvious strengths of his game, Samuele Ricci could slot into Pep Guardiola’s midfield. The Italian international looks like he could one day be a Manchester City player. His passing ability and defensive acumen do appear suited to a role in City’s midfield. The weaknesses in his game are clear to see but they aren’t anything that would stop him playing at the highest level.

If Manchester City are in the market for another midfielder in January Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci may be the ideal player to slot into City’s squad. His game does appear to be ideally suited to come in and play a role for Manchester City. How he performs until January for Torino may dictate whether or not City do move for the Italian international.