By Martin Graham
You won’t find global icons like Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne picking up groceries at the large supermarket near Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium. But in the neighboring district of Collyhurst, it wouldn’t be unusual to bump into rising talent Nico O’Reilly grabbing essentials with his mother.
Despite City enduring a tough season by their high standards, O’Reilly has been a bright spark. The young midfielder has made a name for himself, with Ilkay Gundogan praising his down-to-earth personality after his key role in the recent win over Everton.
Before City’s FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, the 20-year-old spoke to BBC Sport, offering insight into his grounded mindset. He credits those around him – especially his lifelong friends and close-knit family – for helping him remain level-headed, even as he steps onto bigger stages.
“My circle hasn’t changed much,” he said. “I still spend time with the same people, and we do regular things like go shopping at Tesco. Most of my mates are in football too, just at different clubs.”
O’Reilly has only known one club: Manchester City. A supporter since childhood, he joined the club’s academy at just eight years old and steadily progressed through each level.
He wore the captain’s armband when City’s Under-18s clinched their league title in 2023 and impressed again in the elite development group last season. His progress led to a breakthrough into Pep Guardiola’s senior side this year.
His first appearance came at Wembley in the Community Shield against Manchester United, where he featured in the penalty shootout win. That moment marked a significant step in a season full of new experiences.
“Being around the first team every day is something special,” O’Reilly shared. “At first, everything felt a bit overwhelming. But as time passed, I started to feel more settled.”
Although naturally a midfielder, injuries in the squad have seen him fill in at left-back across most of his 18 appearances. Guardiola has acknowledged it’s not O’Reilly’s preferred role – his five goals from deep show his attacking instincts – but the player is focused on finding his own path rather than modeling himself after past club legends like Yaya Toure or David Silva.
Manchester City have struggled to maintain their dominance this term. Liverpool ended their four-year reign at the top of the Premier League, and their Champions League hopes were cut short earlier than expected.
A recent stalemate with bottom-placed Southampton has left City fighting to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League, with just two matches remaining.
Despite the difficulties, O’Reilly has seen resilience in the squad. “These players have won so much, yet they’re still working to improve,” he said. “That mindset has been important for me to learn from.”
He also highlighted Guardiola’s influence, saying the manager sets the tempo and encourages the team to embrace each match with confidence and enjoyment. Even during a stretch where results were scarce, Guardiola credited O’Reilly’s impact as essential to City’s recovery.
The FA Cup has offered moments of joy. O’Reilly found the net in the third round demolition of Salford, scored twice against Plymouth, and changed the course of the game versus Bournemouth by assisting both goals off the bench.
Now, he stands one match away from lifting his first major title with the senior team. “Winning silverware would be huge for me,” he said. “The FA Youth Cup is massive at academy level, and now to have the chance in the senior FA Cup – it’s something every young player dreams of.”
