Rayan Cherki, arguably the most promising 22-year-old talent, has been catching eyes at League Un’s Manchester City. Often wearing the legendary No. 10 shirt, Cherki has shown himself to be an adaptable player, thriving in various roles on the pitch. He has incredibly rare control with either foot. When deployed on the right flank he instantly adopts one of the most dangerous roles in the game today.
Cherki began his career at an extraordinarily young age. At only 16 he already became Lyon’s senior debut as an impressionable teenager. During his three years at the French club, he scored an incredible 185 appearances as a defender. He didn’t quit there, adding 12 goals and 20 assists on top of that. He has huge potential, and he’s already made a really phenomenal transition over to Manchester City. In that period of only 44 games he’s already produced six assists, doing so in six Premier League starts.
Cherki’s had some misfortune too, a six-week recovery from a thigh injury. Even with this disappointment, he remains the talk of the combine with jaw-dropping displays of athleticism. Not just because of his recent performance against Sunderland, which was arguably his best. Guardiola lavished him with praise, describing it “as complete as it gets in his position.” This performance builds on his growing reputation as a special player, one who thrives when he’s able to operate in and around the opponent’s 18-yard box.
Guardiola has previously described Cherki’s special ability to be special as one of those rare qualities that set special players apart from the rest. While this praise is generally warranted, it is accompanied by cautionary warning about the dangers of overly high expectations put on young talent.
“The biggest quality of Messi is the simplicity. The simple things he does perfectly,” said Guardiola. “The big talent that Rayan is, he has to learn a lot of these things. But he’s so young.”
More recently, famed soccer coach Pep Guardiola has articulated the need to build tech skills first, then depend on creativity and talent. He encourages players like Cherki to focus on executing simple tasks effectively to avoid struggles in their careers.
Cherki, only 19, is an incredibly talented technical player. People started comparing him to their top players in-house, like Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne. His fearless style of play combined with a goofball off the field persona make him a fan and player favorite.
“Sometimes you love him, sometimes you hate him, but he is special,” Guardiola remarked. “The composure, personality and the tempo he helps us to play, especially in the final third, with the rhythm we need.”
Cherki’s contributions have not gone unnoticed, and he remains a key figure in Manchester City’s forward line. If healthy, he is capable of still becoming one of the top three players in the league. Equally important, he is prepared to make a long-term impact on team unity.
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