Manchester City supporters have made their feelings crystal clear after reports emerged that Manchester United have made a tentative enquiry about Rayan Ait-Nouri on deadline day.
The possibility of Ait-Nouri moving across Manchester has immediately sparked a strong reaction among City fans.
For many supporters, the answer is simple: absolutely not.
A post highlighting Manchester United’s interest prompted a flood of responses from City supporters. Several fans insisted that the Algeria international is not for sale, while others joked about the enormous transfer fee United would need to offer before they would even consider the possibility.
One supporter summed up the mood perfectly by writing: “No wayyyyyy he’s leaving just no way.”
Another simply responded: “Hell nah.”
The reaction is particularly interesting because the reported enquiry remains tentative. There is currently no indication that a transfer is close to being completed, and it remains unclear whether discussions will progress.
Yet the very idea of United attempting to sign one of City’s players has been enough to send supporters into immediate reaction mode.
Man City fans reject the idea immediately
The overwhelming response was rejection.
One supporter declared “Not for sale”, while another wrote “Definitely not.”
A further fan simply said “Hell NO”, while another posted “Hell no😂😂”.
The message from these supporters could hardly be clearer.
They do not want Ait-Nouri leaving Manchester City, particularly not for their local rivals.
The defender only joined City recently, meaning many supporters see little logic in allowing him to depart before he has had the opportunity to establish himself at the club.
There is also an obvious rivalry element.
Manchester United asking about a Manchester City player is always going to generate a stronger reaction than interest from an overseas club. A move between the two Manchester giants would attract enormous attention, especially if it happened on deadline day.
That explains why the response to the report was so immediate.
“£100m or fcuk off” – City fans name their price
Although most supporters rejected the idea of selling Ait-Nouri, some were willing to entertain the possibility for an extraordinary fee.
One fan wrote:
“£100 mill or fcuk off.”
Another simply demanded “£100m.”
There was even a supporter who raised the figure to £115 million, while another suggested United should bring £120m.
These comments were partly serious and partly designed to mock the situation.
The underlying message, however, remains important.
City supporters do not view Ait-Nouri as a player who should be easily available.
If Manchester United genuinely wanted to test City’s resolve, they would apparently need to make an extraordinary offer.
For a player who is still adapting to life at the Etihad, those reactions demonstrate how highly some supporters already rate him.
Some fans believe the story is nonsense
Not everyone took the report seriously.
One supporter described it as “Clickbait BS Bollox”, while another simply wrote “Laffed tbh.”
There were also several laughing emojis from City fans.
That reaction reflects the unusual nature of the reported enquiry.
Deadline day is famous for unexpected transfer stories. Clubs can make late approaches, but a move between Manchester City and Manchester United would be particularly complicated.
The fact that United have reportedly only made a tentative enquiry has therefore led some supporters to question whether anything meaningful will actually happen.
At this stage, that scepticism is understandable.
A tentative enquiry is very different from an official bid.
It is also very different from Manchester City deciding they want to sell.
Why Ait-Nouri’s situation matters
Ait-Nouri’s importance to City makes the story particularly intriguing.
Manchester City have invested in the Algeria international because of his ability to operate at left-back while also providing attacking qualities.
Modern full-backs are increasingly expected to contribute beyond traditional defensive duties.
Ait-Nouri fits that profile.
His pace, movement and ability to support attacks can provide another dimension to City’s build-up and attacking play. Those qualities could be especially useful for Enzo Maresca as the new manager continues shaping his team.
That makes losing Ait-Nouri difficult to imagine from a football perspective.
City need depth.
They also need players capable of adapting to different tactical situations.
Allowing a useful first-team option to join Manchester United would therefore make little sense unless the financial offer was extraordinary.
That appears to be exactly how many City supporters view the situation.
“Let them bring £120M”
Perhaps the most telling reaction came from the supporter who wrote:
“Let them bring £120M.”
There is an element of humour in that comment, but it also highlights the confidence surrounding Ait-Nouri’s value.
Supporters are effectively saying that City should not even engage in serious discussions unless United are prepared to make an enormous financial commitment.
Another fan went even further by simply writing “£115 million.”
Those numbers are obviously supporter-generated demands rather than confirmed valuation figures.
They should not be interpreted as evidence that Manchester City have placed a £100m-plus price tag on Ait-Nouri.
Instead, they show how strongly fans oppose the idea of selling him.
Not every City fan wants him to stay
Interestingly, there was a minority view.
One supporter wrote:
“Sell man.”
Another said:
“Yes pls sell him.”
Those responses stood out because they went against the dominant mood.
It is important to include that perspective because fan opinion is rarely completely unanimous.
Some supporters may not yet be convinced that Ait-Nouri is the right long-term option. Others may believe that a huge transfer fee could be reinvested into the squad.
However, those views were clearly in the minority within the reactions provided.
The dominant response was overwhelmingly against a sale.
The Manchester United factor changes everything
There is another reason why the reaction has been so fierce.
It is not simply about Ait-Nouri.
It is about Manchester United.
If another Premier League club had made a tentative enquiry, supporters might have responded differently.
But the possibility of Ait-Nouri moving from City to United immediately turns the situation into something much bigger.
Manchester’s rivalry needs no explanation.
Players moving directly between the clubs are rare, and a deadline-day switch would generate enormous headlines.
That is why comments such as “Get f**ked!”, “F**k off!” and “Hell no” appeared so quickly.
The language may be blunt, but it reflects the emotional nature of the rivalry.
City supporters simply do not want to see one of their players strengthening United.
Fans want City to keep control
Perhaps the most consistent theme across the reactions is that supporters want Manchester City to remain in control of the situation.
They do not want United dictating the terms.
They do not want City being forced into a late decision.
And they certainly do not want Ait-Nouri leaving cheaply.
The repeated references to £100m, £115m and £120m underline that point.
Even fans who might accept a sale appear to believe that United would have to pay an enormous premium.
That is a logical position from a supporter perspective.
If City are not actively looking to sell Ait-Nouri, why should they make it easy for a direct rival to sign him?
Ait-Nouri transfer speculation creates deadline-day drama
For now, the key word is enquiry.
Manchester United have reportedly made a tentative approach, but there is no confirmation that negotiations will progress.
That means City supporters may ultimately have nothing to worry about.
The reaction, however, has already demonstrated just how strongly fans feel about the defender’s future.
From “Not for sale” to “Hell no”, the message has been repeated again and again.
Others have taken a more humorous approach by naming enormous prices.
And a small minority have argued that City should sell if the right offer arrives.
But the overwhelming feeling is unmistakable.
Manchester City fans do not want Rayan Ait-Nouri to join Manchester United.
For now, there is no indication that such a move is imminent.
The enquiry may go no further.
But with the transfer window reaching its deadline, the possibility has created another dramatic Manchester City transfer story.
And judging by the supporters’ reaction, there would be plenty of outrage if Ait-Nouri were suddenly unveiled in a red shirt.
For City fans, the message to the club is simple: keep him away from Manchester United — unless the price is absolutely ridiculous.
