Man City find of 2025 might be about to get a chance in his favourite position

Manchester City finally signing a left-back this summer might have a couple of knock-on effects for players who had filled in there last season.

For Josko Gvardiol, it is a chance to return to the centre of defence and his preferred position, striking up a likely partnership with Ruben Dias, one that got an initial outing towards the end of last season.

That came about as Nico O'Reilly emerged as the latest City player to move out of position. The attacking midfielder started to get chances at left-back early in 2025 and quickly made the role his own.

The academy graduate started eight of the final 11 games of the season, and he used those chances to make himself part of the first-team furniture. O'Reilly will be in Pep Guardiola's senior squad this season.

But the question for the 20-year-old is, where will he play? The signing of Rayan Ait-Nouri might mean he gets fewer minutes than he did in the second half of last season, but he might also get more chances in his favoured position.

O'Reilly is an attacking midfielder by trade, and he showed his eye for goal by netting five times from left-back, often timing his runs into central areas perfectly. Guardiola picked up on that, and the City boss explained why it showed his future will remain in midfield despite the impressive way he settled in at left-back.

"His position is - I'm pretty sure - attacking midfielder and every cross he is on the penalty spot," Guardiola said. "That's what I like as an attacking midfielder.

"I'm pretty sure [he is a midfielder], otherwise he doesn't score the goals like he has scored so far. He likes to be there, he has a good shot and quality in small spaces and it's helping us."

O'Reilly could still be used as cover at left-back. Ait-Nouri