Introduction
BOCA RATON, Florida — Tijjani Reijnders, the newly signed midfielder for Manchester City, has clarified that he isn’t looking to fill the shoes of the departing Kevin De Bruyne.
Reijnders’ Perspective
Reijnders, who joins City from Milan following a hefty transfer fee of £46.5 million ($63.07 million), expressed admiration for De Bruyne, acknowledging him as one of his inspirations. However, he emphasized the importance of establishing his own identity on the field as he steps into the role left vacant by the Belgian star, who recently concluded a decade with City to sign with Napoli.
“I’m not here to replace him [De Bruyne],” Reijnders stated during a training session in Florida, where the team prepares for the Club World Cup. “I need to focus on playing my own style, although I do take notes from various players about their strengths. With De Bruyne, I admired how he reads the game and the types of passes he delivers.”
Goals and Aspirations
Reijnders, who has been recognized as the top midfielder in Serie A, looks forward to developing his skills further under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, regarded as one of the finest coaches in world football. He aspires to elevate his game, drawing on lessons from De Bruyne’s impactful performances, including a record-tying 20 assists in a single Premier League season, a feat he shares with Thierry Henry.
Aït-Nouri’s Arrival
Alongside Reijnders, left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri has also joined Manchester City from Wolves and is set to potentially make his debut in the scheduled match against Wydad AC in Philadelphia. 24-year-old Aït-Nouri reflected on his move, calling it a significant progression in his career after spending five years in the Premier League.
“The league is incredibly competitive with many strong teams, but I am excited for this new challenge and aim to give my best performance,” he remarked.
