The 19-year-old has featured in all six of our games this season and was up for the Etihad Player of the Month in August based on his excellent start to the campaign.
And his manager says he has more than earned his place in the team, with his versatility just one of his many assets.
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“He can play in all positions,” said Pep.
“I see sometimes when players are asked, they say ‘yeah I’m a holding midfielder’ or ‘I am a winger’ - Rico can play football and you put him in a position, and he knows exactly what he has to do.
“All the games he has played so far, he has been really, really good and that’s why he’s deserved the minutes he has had so far.”
At his Friday press conference, the boss was reminded that he once said he wished he had 10 Fernandinhos, due to the Brazilian’s ability to perform at the highest level wherever he was asked to play.
Guardiola also admitted he would like more Rico Lewis’s – but added he wished he was a touch higher in height!
“Yeah, I would like him to be a bit taller, but his mum and dad didn’t give these attributes,” he smiled.
“He’s so good in so many aspects - he always wins the ball, he’s so intelligent defensively and so aggressive one v one .
“He played against one of the best wingers in Europe and of course he can come in midfield and play, or centrally and arrive in the final third with intelligence and do many things, but he’s a really, really good defender.”
