Manchester City academy graduate Rico Lewis became the second youngest Englishman to score in the Champions League after Jude Bellingham. The 17-year-old helped achieve the breakthrough in his debut, the 3-1 win against Sevilla at home.
The right-back was later subbed off, with Joao Cancelo coming on for the final minutes. And he was able to absorb the applause from all City fans, walking across the pitch after being asked to leave from the other end.
Rico Lewis scores in Manchester City debut
“We don’t give presents here,” said Guardiola. “He had to earn it.
“The people love players from the academy but we see him every day. We know he has quality and I am really happy for him.”
“Sometimes you think we’ll have to buy full-backs, knowing how expensive it is,” said the City manager.
“But we can give someone from the academy the chance. That’s the dream. It is good for the economy of the club and we can rely on him. I am very pleased with the way they are working.”
Rico Lewis currently has a contract with City until 2025, and the club are planning to extend it further. He joins the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Josh Wilson-Esbrand to break into the first team and make a decent impact.
