Torino and Italy midfielder Samuele Ricci has shared his excitement about being linked to a potential move to Manchester City, following recent reports.
The Premier League champions have reportedly shown interest in Ricci after Rodri was sidelined for the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury involving his ACL and meniscus. Initially, there was hope for a less severe outcome, but both Pep Guardiola and the club confirmed that Rodri’s injury was more serious than expected, leading City to explore midfield alternatives.
In the meantime, Guardiola has turned to players like Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic to fill the gap in midfield. However, transfer rumors have also circulated, with Ricci emerging as one of the potential targets.
In a conversation shared by RAI Sport and translated by Sport Witness, the 23-year-old Ricci expressed his feelings about the rumors linking him to both Manchester City and AC Milan. “It is very pleasing, of course,” Ricci said. “But I’ve come to understand football a bit better now. When things are going well, you get linked to big clubs, and it’s gratifying because it means you’re on the right track.”
Ricci also spoke about his development as a player, revealing that video analysis has been a key factor in improving his game. He specifically mentioned Manchester City’s Rodri as someone he looks up to in his learning process. “I’ve done a lot of work on checking what’s behind me, as it can make a huge difference,” Ricci explained. “My coach sends me videos, many of them featuring Rodri. It’s the small details that are important, and I need to keep improving, especially in positioning.”
He also credited Torino coach Paolo Vanoli for pushing him to study and develop further, adding, “Vanoli sends me so many videos. Toro fans deserve more; it’s a club with immense history, and their supporters are rightfully demanding.”
The first reports of Manchester City’s interest in Ricci emerged in late September, with English media suggesting that the young Italian was high on City’s radar for the January transfer window. However, no significant updates have emerged since then regarding City’s plans to pursue the midfielder.
