The potential transfer of Samuele Ricci from Torino to Manchester City is far from advanced, if it ever truly existed. However, the Torino midfielder appears to have already made a significant impression on the English fans, following early rumours of his possible move circulating this week.
The Guardian was the first to report the news. According to the reputable British newspaper, Pep Guardiola – urgently seeking a midfielder after Rodri’s injury – has allegedly added Ricci’s name to his wish list for the January transfer window.
The former Empoli star had already sparked interest beyond Italy, having showcased his talents in a recent Nations League match against France.
Typical of transfer rumours, this piece of news was enough to ignite excitement among the Citizens’ fanbase. A few hundred English supporters were glued to their televisions for Ricci’s last match, yesterday afternoon against Lazio.
Despite Torino’s loss, Ricci was one of the few shining stars on the pitch. The excitement was evident on social media, with dozens of interactions ranging from praises on X (formerly Twitter) to persuasive comments on Ricci’s Instagram account.
To add fuel to the fire, the well-known platform Transfer News confirmed the initial rumour yesterday.
What is certain is that, even if Manchester City’s interest in Samuele Ricci is genuine, a quick resolution seems unlikely. Guardiola and his staff may have lofty ambitions, but convincing the player might be another matter altogether.
Moreover, Torino seems reluctant to let go of arguably their brightest talent, even for substantial sums.
For now, we await more reliable and substantiated updates in the coming days. It is worth recalling that Milan and Lazio were previously linked with the highly-regarded Torino midfielder.