RICO LEWIS has revealed the nerve-wracking experience he had when he first joined up with Manchester City’s senior team.
The defender – who turns 19 on November 21 – is the son of a two-time British Thai boxing champion and the grandson of a musician who went on tour with Oasis.
But he was still a bag of nerves when it came to boarding the Man City coach as he broke into the squad of global megastars.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lewis recalled when he was called up by Pep Guardiola to join the club’s tour of America in 2022.
He said: “When you’re there for the first time, you’re just trying to find a seat.
“You don’t want to be in anyone else’s. The worst thing is if you sit somewhere and then have to move in front of everyone. Things like that, it’s nerve-wracking having to ask.
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“Back then it was a big thing. I was nervous. The quicker I understood they’re just normal people, the easier it was to be myself.”
Then 17, Lewis joined a host of other teens on the tour after a word in Guardiola’s ear from assistant coach Carlos Vicens about the “lad with the hair“.
Lewis had come through the academy ranks at City with flying colours, captaining every team from the age of nine and even prompting the club to sign a winger because he managed to give the defender a hard game.
But since breaking into the senior team he has been carefully managed by Guardiola, who labelled Lewis “one of the best I’ve ever trained”.
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Lewis has appeared 33 times for Man City so far, including ten games this season, and already has a Treble to his name – the medals of which he has hanging on his wardrobe.
However, he would not be where he is today without the help of Phil Foden and the home comforts he gets living at home at his mum Steph’s house.
Fellow academy grad Foden has been a big help behind the scenes for Lewis, while he says his mum has taught him to “stay humble”.
There is also dad, Rick, and grandad, Dave, to consider in his upbringing.
Lewis explained that playing football with Man City in the first place was down to his grandad who was once a bassist for Oasis.
He said: “My grandad was a bassist, he went on tour with Oasis. He could probably tell you all the stories but I can’t remember.
“That was one of the reasons I started. He’s a big City fan as well, he’s over the moon when I play.”
Meanwhile, Lewis spent more than his fair share of time at the Phoenix Muay Thai boxing gym in Whitefield, a couple of miles from his home near Bury, which is owned by his dad.
Lewis recalls first hitting the pads at the age of three and 30 undefeated fights as a child.
He stepped away from the fights when he joined Man City’s youth set-up but revealed he still practices the martial art.
Even this year, Lewis was in the gym with his dad during pre-season and insists it helps with his football game.
He said: “‘Pre-season this year I was with my dad in the gym. It’s a completely different type of fitness, really good for continuous power.
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“You’ve always got to be on your toes, constantly moving, moving your hips.
“It’s helped massively with balance, especially playing that midfield role with the turning and keeping your balance. Protecting the ball is a big thing for the manager, people who can keep it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
