Rayan Cherki: Is Man City star a tamed maverick or a maverick untamed?
“I learned to play football on the streets, in housing estates, on concrete. So naturally, this is my DNA and I will never change it,” Cherki said. said in july, external After joining City from Ligue 1 side Lyon.
Since moving to England, Cherki has stayed true to his word and continues to please the crowds. There are gasps from the crowd every time he receives the ball at the Etihad Stadium.
His catalog of tricks and moves for City this season would make an impressive compilation on YouTube or TikTok.
Teammates spoke enthusiastically about Cherki; France captain Kylian Mbappe said he had a “talent” for playing football, while City captain Bernardo Silva described him as a “special talent” and Phil Foden said he was a “unique” player.
While Guardiola has said Cherki is one of the most talented players he has ever worked with, some of the 22-year-old’s silky skills have not always gone down well.
In December, Guardiola berated his player for making a ‘rabona’ assist against Sunderland, saying “I’ve never seen him play a cross like Lionel Messi does” and although it worked in that situation, he “would have been in trouble” had it not worked.
Cherki seems both delighted and infuriated.
Cherki, who was brought in to replace club legend Kevin de Bruyne, had big boots to fill but early signs suggest he can fill the void left by the brilliant Belgian and his creativity.
The midfielder has made eight assists in the Premier League this season, all from open play, created 15 big chances and managed 21 possessions; In all these measurements, he is behind only Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.
Cherki featured in France’s friendly win over Colombia during the last international break, but 1998 World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry issued a scathing assessment of the player and his work rate.
“What kind of a player is this player who can afford to stop when he loses the ball?” in question, external Former Birmingham City striker. “What is this player who performs every time he touches the ball? Stop talking about Cherki like that.”
“He is a player who still needs consistency and needs to get better over time. He needs to show, prove, show.
“Oh, Cherki, it’s not that [Zinedine] “Zidane.”
Pye adds: “There’s an expectation for him to take care of things when things aren’t going your way.
“There is real courage in taking the game by the scruff of the neck and showcasing his raw talent no matter what the situation. “He is absolutely the type of footballer the Premier League needs.
“Guardiola knows that this is a player who can go all the way. But it’s up to Cherki himself. How much does he want it? How far does he want to go?”
On Saturday, Cherki will face a Liverpool team he could join in the summer. reportedly, external He met with manager Arne Slot for negotiations.
But the Reds went out of their way to spend £116 million on German international Florian Wirtz, paving the way for City to bring Cherki in for just £30 million.
There has been a clear winner in these two signings so far – Cherki will aim to provide another reminder of what Slot is capable of.
