Young defender insists he has “full faith” in a plan mapped out for him at the Etihad
Comments come after his name emerged in Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson negotiations
Manchester City defender Rico Lewis has moved to calm growing speculation over his future at the club. He declared his “full faith” in a plan already in place for him at the club, despite a difficult season that left his role under Pep Guardiola severely reduced.
The 21-year-old made just 11 Premier League appearances last term, a sharp drop-off for a player once seen as one of the brightest young talents to emerge from City’s academy.
That lack of game time, coupled with the arrival of new head coach Enzo Maresca and an ongoing squad rebuild overseen director of football Hugo Viana, had fuelled reports that Lewis could push for an exit if he isn’t guaranteed regular football this season.
Nottingham Forest and Everton have both been credited with interest, with Lewis’s situation reportedly discussed as City explored a deal involving Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.
Yet rather than fuel talk of an escape route, Lewis has chosen to address the uncertainty directly — and on his own terms.
“There’s a plan in place for me,” he says
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Lewis reflected candidly on a campaign that, on paper, represented a setback in his development.
“Last season could be called a disappointing season but I think it’s exactly what I needed,” he said.
“There’s a plan in place for me that I just have to believe in. I’ve got full faith it will come to fruition.”
It’s a notably mature response from a player still just 21, choosing to frame a frustrating year as a formative one rather than something to escape from.
Lewis, who has come through every level of Manchester City‘s academy system, has long been regarded internally as a player whose temperament matches his technical versatility.
He is comfortable at right-back, in central defence or pushed into midfield and his comments suggest that reputation for level-headedness remains intact even under pressure.
He also spoke with clear enthusiasm about the season ahead, adding: “I’m excited to be back and playing football again.
“I’ve been training for a while and excited to be playing football and training hard, working hard, playing as many games as I can do this season.”
What it means for his Etihad future
Whether that plan means a genuine role in Maresca’s first-team plans, a loan to secure regular minutes, or something else entirely remains to be seen.
Maresca is expected to run the rule over Lewis and several fringe squad members during City’s pre-season tour before making decisions on the shape of his back line.
What is clear is that Lewis does not sound like a player agitating for the exit door. His link to the Anderson discussions appears to have been more a footnote in City’s broader business than a sign he was being pushed out.
Also, his comments suggest he remains fully invested in fighting for his place at the Etihad rather than seeking regular football elsewhere.
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