Player Analysis: Rico Lewis

Following the rise to superstardom of academy graduate Phil Foden, it appears as though Manchester City have unearthed yet another gem. Rico Lewis has quickly become an important part of Pep Guardiola’s setup for Manchester City and it appears the club have found a long-term replacement for the aging Kyle Walker within their own ranks.

At a club with the financial muscle of the current Premier League holders, a young player must truly flourish at youth level and show his readiness amongst senior players to receive a genuine opportunity in the side, and this is precisely what Rico Lewis has done. Not only is the teenager a key prospect for Manchester City’s future, he’s also ready to play a major role immediately.

Standing at just 1.69m tall without a particularly muscular build, Rico Lewis has not been taken aback by the physical requirements of first-team football. During Manchester City’s pre-season campaign, a then-17-year-old Lewis performed at a level that suggested that he would not be intimidated by the step-up to senior football.

This has been the case in nearly every performance he’s had for the club thus far — a preparedness for big games against difficult opponents. As the former captain of Manchester City’s U-18 side, his mental attributes have shone through as he does appear to be a leader on the pitch, despite his age.