Manchester City: Shay Given lauds new recruits and suggests Guardiola has a trick up his sleeve

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given says he has been hugely impressed by the club’s three new recruits during the FIFA Club World Cup, where every game is free and live on DAZN.

This summer, Pep Guardiola signed Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, Rayan Cherki arrived from Lyon and Rayan Ait-Nouri joined from Wolves in a spending spree totalling over £100 million.

All three have made a positive impression in the US with City having won all three of their group games to progress to the Round of 16 where they will face Al Hilal.

Carl Recine - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

“Cherki scored [against Al Ain] with a brilliant finish and Ait-Nouri gives them much more balance on the left-hand side,” said Given, who is working as a pundit for DAZN during the tournament.

“Reijnders obviously played in the first game of the tournament, so I think they’re all really experienced players.

“They signed younger players in January for the future, except for maybe Omar Marmoush, but it feels like these three signings so far are for now.

“I really like Ait-Nouri and are we going to see a different system this season at Man City with Matheus Nunes as a right wing-back and maybe Ait-Nouri as a left wing-back?

“Has Pep got some kind of mastermind trick up his sleeve with his full-backs playing inside his midfield?

“Watch this space – but they’re three very good signings.”

This year’s tournament – where all 63 games are free to watch live on DAZN – has been expanded to 32 teams and is more lucrative than ever.

The winning club could earn up to $125million / £93m, which rivals the prize money earmarked for the winners of the UEFA Champions League.

Given added: “I’ve really enjoyed it actually. I was a bit sceptical before because this is the first one with 32 teams and everyone was a bit unsure about how it’s going to pan out.

“I got quite hooked on it from day one and as more games have gone on, the more I’ve got hooked on it.

“Now with the knockout stages, I think it will ramp up even more.

“There have been some great games and obviously some great goals as well with lots of talent on show. That makes our job easier as pundits.”

Given was asked about the surprise packages of the tournament and pointed to Lionel Messi-inspired Inter Miami following their progress to the Round of 16.

Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Javier Mascherano’s Herons will face newly-crowned UEFA Champions League winners Paris St-Germain on Sunday.

“Messi and [Luis] Suarez are obviously getting on a bit, but they still know where the back of the net is,” added Given.

“PSG are not a surprise package as such, but they had a great start and then faltered in the second game.

“Al Hilal, in their first game against Real Madrid, were probably the biggest surprise with how they played.

“They really kept the ball, they kept possession, and in that game against Real Madrid they were very, very good.”

Given said his stand-out goalkeeper of the tournament so far was Al Hilal stopper Yassine Bounou.

He saved a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Real Madrid after superbly keeping out Federico Valverde’s spot-kick.

“I would say Bounou has been really good and I have followed his career for quite some time,” revealed Given.

“He was brilliant against Real Madrid when saving that penalty at the death, but then he had another fantastic game the other night. I’ve liked his performances so far.”

Watch every match of the 2025 Club World Cup live and free on DAZN. More information and to sign up for a free account here