Rico Lewis: Manchester City defender on Pep Guardiola; Phil Foden & his Thai boxing upbringing

Despite being a prodigiously talented fighter, who idolised Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather Jr, with the potential to follow in his father’s footsteps, Lewis chose to chase his football dream, joining City’s academy around the age of eight.

That path into professional football, especially at the very elite Premier League clubs, is well documented for its difficulty.

For City academy prospects, the road to the first team is one where only the most talented and dedicated succeed.

But even they can have doubts.

“Before I signed my scholarship, I was talking to my dad in the car on the way and, obviously it sounds stupid now, but I was saying to him if by the time I’m 18 if I’m not training with the first team then I’ll be looking at other options,” Lewis said.

City’s pre-season tour of the United States before the 2022-23 campaign brought his breakthrough – where he got his chance to play alongside established starssuch as Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker.

“You’ve almost got to act as if it’s just a normal thing but at the time it’s kind of crazy to try and familiarise yourself with these players,” he said.

“I think it’s something that you just have to kind of take in your stride and if you’re meant to be in that environment, you will do.”