21-year-old Rayan Cherki has taken the football world by storm as an attacking midfielder and winger with insane creativity and skill. Cherki made his debut in under-17 football at the age of 14. Along the way, he faced several hurdles, like all the negativity behind his looks and mindset. The diminutive playmaker continues to defy the odds, establishing himself as one of the most inventive talents in French football today. He put up some eye-popping numbers during this past season’s Europa League.
For Cherki, who has skyrocketed up the ranks the last few years, it hasn’t been an easy road. He has often had to play under the microscope of concern over whether his physicality and mental approach will translate to the pros. His coach, Vulliez, noted, “Over the years, he has shown resilience because it was not easy for him.” Cherki’s strength of character is reflected on the pitch in the confidence he displays in his spectacular performances. In the Europa League, he topped the competition with 13 through-balls completed, 48 dribbles completed, 22 big chances created and 11 assists.
Beyond his attacking talents, Cherki’s versatility means he can contribute on the right wing to good effect. His versatility is an important asset, as he’s still growing and learning the game. Vulliez commented on Cherki’s development, stating, “He can play in different positions and now I think he is able to understand what the coach wants and how to adapt to the plan of that coach.” At the same time, he admitted that Cherki’s pressing stats are quite low, which shows that there is still more work to be done.
Cherki’s clearly looking to nail down a position as a No. 10. He feels that this platform and role will give him the opportunity to create the most profound change. His path so far with Lyon has provided him the valuable experience needed to be successful. Now, anticipation grows as Manchester City moves to make what would be a record signing, reportedly a bidding war winner for his services in the Premier League.
The Italian young talent’s early career had been defined by phenomenal flashes of brilliance. Vulliez reminisced about Cherki’s youth, saying, “When he was very young, it was incredible. Every day, every training session, he would be dribbling past opponents and wanting to score.” That combination of generational talent and success-motivated instincts is what has propelled him to become such a dynamic player.
Despite facing psychological battles early in his career, Vulliez noted that “psychologically, he was not ready to play” at times. Cherki has demonstrated growth and maturity on and off the pitch. For Mentz, this means having an awareness of what’s most important in his game, especially in the way he balances his dribbling and passing skills. Very much so, I’d say because he was really all about the duels, one on one. Vulliez further explained that for him, finding this balance was definitely important. More than anything else, he needed to understand when to dribble and when to dish.
As Cherki continues to develop his skills and gain confidence in his abilities, many observers are eager to see how he will adapt to a more competitive environment like the Premier League. A rumored $16 million transfer to Manchester City would be life-changing for the 21-year-old. It would provide him the platform to prove his talents to a much wider audience.
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