Rayan Cherki was still a child when Jean-François Voullier, the ex-Lyon academy boss, asked him about his dreams. Cherki replied that he wanted to win the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or. Voullier laughed at the answer, but now that Cherki looks set to join man city, he seems to have started moving toward that goal — the same dream people once mocked.
Cherki showed his amazing talent with a brilliant display after coming on as a sub for France during their 5-4 loss to Spain in the Nations League in Stuttgart on Thursday. Spain led 5-1 shortly after Cherki came on, but he scored a goal and gave an assist in just 30 minutes and nearly led a historic comeback.
He has played very well for Lyon. Thierry Henry, who worked with him in the French Under-21 team, said he had never seen a player dribble so fast with both feet. Henry also said they still don’t know whether Cherki is left- or right-footed. He usually uses his left foot more, but his right-footed shots have great power.
Cherki joined Lyon’s senior squad at 16 and just before his 17th birthday, he scored twice and set up two more goals in a match against Nantes.
Cherki has played top-level football for so long that people often forget he is only 21. This is his sixth season with Lyon.
Rayan Cherki Brings Rebellion to Guardiola’s Setup
The young French star stands out for his skills, strong technique, and balance with both feet. He moves easily in tight areas and dribbles past defenders with ease. Because of this, defenders often need more than one player to stop him when he is on the ball.
Last season, many Premier League attackers became too easy to read. Cherki brings something new. He uses both feet equally well and finds clever ways to break through defences in ways defenders don’t expect.
Cherki usually plays on the wing, mainly on the right side, but over time, he hopes to play in the number 10 position, where he can influence the game more.
But the big question is this — can Cherki, a player full of creativity and unpredictability, work well in Pep Guardiola’s very strict football system, where every player has to follow specific instructions? Or will Guardiola’s control stop Cherki from playing his natural game?
Rayan Cherki’s Stats in All Competitions This Season
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 44 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Assists | 20 |
| Total Goals + Assists | 32 |
| Chances Created | 128 |
| Shots on Target | 32 |
| Passing Accuracy | 84.11% |
| Through Passes | 35 |
| Big Chance Conversion Rate | 72.73% |
Cherki’s impact on the pitch is clear. He plays many roles, troubles defenders easily, and his numbers from last season show how much he helped Lyon.
He can pass the ball with both the inside and outside of his feet, which lets him find surprising angles to beat defences. He also sees spaces clearly and knows how to use them, often creating chances for others.
This is part of his usual playing style. He carries the ball forward more than most players in Europe. He may not have top speed, but when he sees space, he runs strongly into it. He relies more on changes of direction and quick footwork than on pure speed to beat defenders.
Cherki doesn’t have the fastest pace at the top level, but he uses his strength to protect the ball and get away from tackles in tight areas. His close control makes him hard to stop when he runs at full speed. Even while running quickly, he keeps his head up to look for teammates in space. These traits make him look quicker with the ball than without it.
