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Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri had a positive debut for the club but will return from injury to a different landscape.
James Trafford might not be the only summer signing at Manchester City wondering what he walked into.
Trafford arrived with hopes of swiftly establishing himself as No.1 to aid his push for a World Cup spot in 2026. Even if it took more time to establish himself for club and country, the path was clear.
Except now he has the best goalkeeper in the world standing in his way and, more importantly, the net for every Premier League and Champions League game. Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived at the Etihad on deadline day after an interest that has lingered for eight years and Trafford's best hope of forcing his way into the England team is to leave City.
Rayan Ait-Nouri could also be forgiven for thinking he had his position sewn up at City. As the first specialist left-back signed since 2019, he was ushered through the door by jubilant fans and impressed on debut at former club Wolves.
Then injury struck and in his absence Nico O'Reilly has arguably made the position his own. O'Reilly is a No.10 by trade but that may soon become past tense with every game he shines in at left-back.
One of the catalysts for City's recovery in the final months of last season has now been central to getting over their mini-crisis at the beginning of this one. It is no coincidence that O'Reilly has started every game since the derby - his first start of the season - and the Blues are unbeaten in all competitions and showing positive signs.
A pinpoint assist at Monaco was accompanied by a storming performance, while at the Emirates he kept both Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka quiet despite being heavily targeted by Arsenal.
Those are international wingers, and O'Reilly also has England ambitions. Speaking after signing a new five-year deal at City last week, the 22-year-old insisted he is determined to not just be a squad player and wants to push for the World Cup at the end of the year.
On the evidence of the last month, Thomas Tuchel would be wise to consider him just as Pep Guardiola will struggle to get Ait-Nouri back into his team. There will be enough games to go round for both over the course of the campaign, but it would be extremely harsh to drop O'Reilly if Ait-Nouri is fit for the game with Everton later this month.
City have paid up to £36.3m for Ait-Nouri, yet what price can be put on O'Reilly? Back in May he was valued at around £16m by Transfermarkt so add in a bumper new contract and his recent form and you can at least triple that number.
For all that signings always get the attention in summer, the academy player is looking like a superstar in a team full of the best in the world - and doing it out of position. The longer it goes on like this, the more Guardiola will feel left-back is the perfect position for him in the team.
If Ait-Nouri wants to be No.1 in his position, he has to rise to the challenge. And while that may be easier than what looms for Trafford, O'Reilly is getting more valuable to Guardiola with every game that he plays.
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