Rico Lewis admits desire for major position change in Manchester City starting line-up

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola may be subject to a public plea from Rico Lewis over a potential future position change within starting line-ups.

The teenage full-back talent has become increasingly more important within Manchester City’s first-team squad since first breaking into the picture in the winter of the club’s historic Treble-winning campaign.

With Joao Cancelo forced out of the door on an initial six-month loan deal to Bayern Munich in January 2023, Rico Lewis was presented with a golden opportunity to take on the role of the inverted full-back – coming inside to sit alongside a defensive midfielder when in possession.

That invaluable education in the centre of the park then saw Lewis grow into the role of a more advanced midfielder during the first quarter of the recently-concluded 2023/24 season, operating high up the pitch against the likes of Arsenal, BSC Young Boys, and RB Leipzig.

And now it appears as though having tasted a few opportunities high up the pitch for Manchester City, Rico Lewis is not looking back at his former right-back role within Pep Guardiola’s selections, sending a clear message this week.

Speaking whilst away in North Carolina with the Manchester City squad on their pre-season tour of the United States, Lewis admitted a desire to change his go-to position within Etihad Stadium starting line-ups.

“In my head I want to be more of a No 8,” the club’s Academy graduate admitted, as relayed by MailSport’s Jack Gaughan. “A bit more attacking. You have to make a decision about what kind of player you want to be.”

He continued, “Maybe it’s an age thing wanting to be more involved in assisting and scoring. Games are mostly won and lost in midfield.”

Having registered 50 appearances since breaking into the first-team picture around 18 months ago, Rico Lewis has experienced almost everything there is to win at club level, claiming the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup within his first six months.

The following campaign then saw the Bury-born defender claim the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and a fourth successive and record-breaking Premier League title with Pep Guardiola and his star-studded squad.

Whilst there is understood to be ongoing interest in the player over a loan deal from some of Europe’s most prominent clubs, as well as talk of a loan move to Newcastle to sweeten a Bruno Guimaraes deal, Rico Lewis is expected to stay and further fight for his place in the line-up.