It only took City’s senior first-teamers two minutes to size up Rico Lewis according to manager Pep Guardiola. Just 120 seconds.
That is not a long period to persuade some of the best players in the world, and one of the most successsful managers ever, that you have what it takes to make it into their dressing room and stay there. But the young full-back did it, so little wonder there such overwhelming satisfaction all round when he proved them all right in front of cameras and the public against Sevilla on Wednesday night.
Lewis’s Champions League debut vindicated the judgement not just of the first team squad who recognised a bit of themselves in the raw talent but that of his family, coaches, teachers and mentors at the club who have helped him progress from his first trial aged seven to this moment.
Yet to push on from here will depend on him more than anyone else. There is no mistaking the regard in which the Bury-born right back is held at the Etihad.
Lewis captained the Under 18s last season and was invited to train on occasions with the first team in order not just to make up numbers but to provide a glimpse of what is required. It is a familiar path and one trodden by Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and James McAtee amongst others in the last few seasons.
Lewis was given his chance to impress on the club’s pre-season tour to the United States and grabbed it making two impressive cameos against Bayern Munich and Club America. He was rewarded further with a place in the starting XI which took on Barcelona in a charity friendly at the Nou Camp in late August.
Is Rico Lewis the next big thing? Have your say here
Guardiola said on Wednesday how quickly Lewis has taken on board instructions about how to play the full-back role in his system – something it has taken others longer to master.
“We felt he had something special (before the summer tour),” said Guardiola. “The players didn't know him before. But you know good players in two minutes.”
City are cautious with their youngsters with regard to overexposure – they refused requests from various rights holders for an interview on Wednesday – and not because he cannot talk. He has done a project with the BBC and the feedback came that he was an absolute pleasure to deal with.
Those who know the player speak of maturity and good manners. An obvious candidate for captaincy of age group teams he was also bright enough to pass his B Tech Sport with a distinction and has also completed his UEFA C Coaching badge in one year.
Lewis has been a City fan ever since a friend encouraged him to trial for the club aged seven. His younger sister is also a full back in the City ladies academy U16 set-up.
“To come all the way through and get to this point, it’s the dream,” he said recently. “My family saw me make my debut. They are proud of me and I am proud of that.”
Lewis has been positionally versatile during his academy years playing right and left back and holding midfield, but if his future maps out as City intend it will be as a right back.
Bury connections have seen him labelled as the next Kieran Trippier, another right-back who started out at Manchester City a dozen years ago. Others see him more as City’s answer to Trent Alexander-Arnold or Chelsea ’s Reece James.
But with Kyle Walker’s stellar career coming into its twilight – he is contracted until 2025 when he will be 35 – it is the post-Walker world that will be his domain.
It seems likely that the two will dovetail increasingly over the next season and a half with Walker likely to give way as he approaches his final season.
City were keen to sign left-back Marc Cucurella in the summer only to baulk at Brighton ’s asking price. Their thinking at the time was that Joao Cancelo would eventually replace Walker on the right.
Since Lewis made his debut as a late substitute against Bournemouth on August 13, the thinking at the club has shifted with Lewis at the forefront of changing plans.
