Rico Lewis Breaks Silence on Man City Exit Rumors as Pep Guardiola Fires Back
Manchester City's Rico Lewis has stated definitively that he has no plans to depart the club during this summer's transfer period.
Nottingham Forest have already secured an agreement to acquire City's James McAtee and are reportedly pursuing a separate deal for the 20-year-old Lewis, who provided an assist in his team's commanding 4–0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Following the match, Lewis addressed the media to express his commitment to remaining with City past the current transfer window.
"Personally, I've never envisioned myself wearing another club's colors," Lewis stated. "My ambition has always been to represent City. This is the club of my dreams, and as you witnessed today, performing alongside these caliber of teammates elevates my game to new heights, which fills me with joy.
"Naturally, everyone seeks reassurance and stability, but ultimately, the responsibility lies with me. I must deliver on the pitch. I must capitalize on opportunities. When I seize my moments, I succeed. When I fall short, I must work harder and improve.
"I featured more frequently last season compared to the previous one, and this campaign I aim to surpass last season's appearances, so my objective remains consistent - establishing myself as a regular starter."
Head coach Pep Guardiola subsequently verified that Lewis had already expressed this position to the organization and acknowledged he would be pleased to retain the "exceptional" fullback.
"I believe he will remain with us. That's my understanding," Guardiola commented regarding Lewis. "He conveyed that message to me. However, circumstances can shift overnight.
"Take Phil [Foden] as an example, or Rico, or Nico O'Reilly - I hold particular affection for these players because they joined us at 16 or 17 years old while we were capturing Premier League titles.
"In his position, he's a remarkable talent. His only limitation is his stature. If he possessed greater height, we'd unanimously declare 'what an incredible player.' Currently, I expect he'll stay, though the future remains uncertain."