After Learning Wirtz Would Cost Over £100m, Man City Decisively Signed Sheykhi for Less Than a Third of the Price
Although Rayan Cherki has only played 389 minutes in a Manchester City shirt so far, the French prodigy has left his teammates lost for words—his goal against Borussia Dortmund in midweek lifted his direct goal involvement to 8.
Signed from Lyon for £34 million, Cherki has made just 4 starts in 12 appearances for the Citizens, yet has contributed 4 goals and 4 assists. Injury briefly disrupted his start, but he announced his return with an explosive performance over the past week.
In 174 minutes across matches against Swansea, Bournemouth, and Dortmund, he delivered 2 goals and 3 assists, almost securing a starting spot for this weekend’s clash with Liverpool.
It was his two assists for Erling Haaland that helped the team beat Bournemouth, prompting the Norwegian striker to exclaim: “He has that indescribable special talent.”
In the midweek Champions League game, he came off the bench to score the decisive goal. When asked about Cherki’s impact since returning from injury, John Stones paused and admitted: “To be honest, I don’t know how to describe Rayan.”
Whether coming off the bench or starting, the French magician’s brilliance is forcing Pep Guardiola to rethink his tactics. Should he replace Savio on the right flank, or slot him alongside the in-form Phil Foden in midfield? It’s undoubtedly a sweet dilemma.
Since moving to Man City from his boyhood club, Cherki has been profoundly influencing the dressing room. After a breakthrough season in Ligue 1 last year, he is carrying his hot form into the Premier League. The 22-year-old source of creativity—a modern interpretation of the classic playmaker—if he starts in this weekend’s blockbuster fixture, his duel with Wirtz, who is likely to start for Liverpool, is destined to be the highlight.
And after learning that Liverpool had offered a nine-figure sum to sign Wirtz, Man City made a decisive U-turn—signing Cherki for less than a third of the price has proven to be an absolute bargain. Comparing the data of the two since they arrived in the
Premier League this summer, Cherki is comprehensively superior. Stones is particularly appreciative of the change he has brought to the team: “I love playing alongside him,” praised the English center-back. “His calmness, two-footed ability, balance, and flair—that perfect level of confidence—he always sees passing lanes no one else can. It’s a joy to have a player with such talent fighting alongside us.”
Cherki’s vision has particularly benefited Haaland. The Norwegian marksman is a world-class player at exploiting spaces behind defenses, and their understanding as international teammates was clearly on display in the game against Bournemouth.
“He’s a great guy with incredible talent,” said Haaland. “Ultimately, we need to build chemistry on the pitch to bring out the best in each other. As a number ten, we need to help him unlock his mind and let him supply the frontline more freely—after all, he possesses that indescribable special ability.”
“He’s a bit like Kevin (De Bruyne) in that he can pass from anywhere on the pitch. He’s a special talent, and we need to help him develop further because he can be absolutely brilliant.”
Being compared to De Bruyne after less than six and a half hours in a Man City shirt is quite something for Cherki. This weekend’s game will see him and Wirtz measure their current form against each other—and based on recent performances, there may only be one winner.
