Rico Lewis is one of the jewels in Manchester City’s crown.
Coming through the Manchester City academy, the 20-year-old has become a key squad player, with Pep Guardiola trusting the youngster enough to play at right-back as well as in various midfield roles.
As a result, Manchester City are ready to extend Lewis’ contract and consider his new deal a major priority.
While some City fans would be in favour of a contract extension, others cannot understand the rationale behind the Englishman being rewarded with a brand-new deal.
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Man City fans split about Rico Lewis being offered new contract
One Manchester City fan was delighted about Rico Lewis being offered a new contract, explaining: “The right move. Looks a lot better in a good and functional team. Very intelligent footballer, don’t think his future is as a full-back though. Probably an eight.”
A second supporter believes that the advantage of the Bury-born defender potentially staying put is that Pep Guardiola will have no choice but to trust up-and-coming players like him rather than the old guard: “This can only mean Viana is going to properly clear house. Take the likes of Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan] and Kova [Mateo Kovacic] away from Pep for his own good and have no choice but to play fresh, young players like Nico G. [Gonzalez] etc.”
A third Manchester City fan feels handing Lewis a new contract if his long-term future is in midfield and if either Galatsaray target Gundogan or Kovacic leave the club, stating: “Makes sense if he’s seen as a midfielder and you’re moving on Gundogan/Kovacic.”
However, other fans could not disagree more, questioning where the highly-rated technician will even regularly play in the future, considering Manchester City are eyeing a new right-back and the midfield has plenty of options already: “Where is he going to play? Is he also ahead of Nico G.? What if we buy a RB [right-back]? Makes zero sense, this.”
Another supporter reacted to the news by pinpointing that the standards are declining at the Etihad Stadium after seeing how they have succeeded some of their former stalwarts: “[Riyad] Mahrez to Savinho, [Kyle] Walker to Rico, [Kevin] De Bruyne to Kova, [Aymeric] Laporte to [Manuel] Akanji. The levels have fallen off a cliff.”
Considering Lewis considers himself a midfielder, a sixth Manchester City fan questioned why a new contract for him is viewed as a priority at all as the Sky Blues have several established midfielders: “Ngl (not going to lie), I struggle to see the sense to this. City are prioritising a new RB this summer and Rico doesn’t see himself there. Which lands him in midfield where I’m not sure he’ll ever be a regular starter (at least in the next couple of years). Gundo and Kovacic need to leave, if so.”
Regardless of the decision City finally take about the wonderkid’s future is likely to cause uproar within the fanbase.
Rico Lewis’ stance on his Man City future
Pep Guardiola adores Lewis and based on how he has always rated him highly, Manchester City fans might assume that the decision to extend his contract comes from him.
However, City are a club who tend to build towards the future and at 20 years of age, it is hard to argue that the England international cannot go on to become a top player.
Lewis intends to stay at Manchester City and he is considered a key part of their project.
It will be interesting to see whether the two-time Premier League winner becomes a consistent fixture in his boyhood club’s starting line-up or has to accept the role of a squad player in years to come.
