Why Does Rayan Cherki Spark Such Division Among Fans?

After recovering from a thigh injury, Rayan Cherki has quickly made an impact at Manchester City, scoring two goals and providing three assists since October. The French talent has impressed both England and Pep Guardiola, who praised his “excellent vision in the final third.” Guardiola noted, “He shows consistency and boldness. However, given our dynamic playing style, we need to give him more time,” as he started Cherki in the recent 3-0 victory against Liverpool.

While England celebrates the Lyon prodigy, opinions are mixed in France. Called up by Didier Deschamps for the November squad, the 22-year-old midfielder played 68 minutes against Ukraine and 29 minutes against Azerbaijan. Although he did not score, Deschamps acknowledged that he has “above-average technical quality,” adding, “There are areas to improve compared to his performance on Thursday. He also relies on the team. His positioning was a bit too deep in that match. He contributed an hour of play.”

A Playing Style That Frustrates

Such comments are expected for a young player making only his fourth appearance. However, some media outlets have criticized his playing style, claiming it doesn’t fit Deschamps’ expectations. Jérôme Rothen remarked, “After making so many mistakes at the start of a match, you make a fancy move and lose control, and no one comments on it. I won’t even discuss the poor quality of his performance—only the mindset. You must be impeccable.”

Raymond Domenech joined the criticism, asserting that Cherki has “no chance” of being selected for the World Cup. He pointed out that “Akliouche, Olise, and Nkunku are his competitors. Will he make the World Cup squad? I seriously doubt it! The coach brought him on when the match was already decided—he contributed nothing.” Journalist Grégory Schneider added, “The disparity in how Cherki (a substitute at City) is treated compared to Akliouche (who helped AS Monaco in the Champions League) is astonishing.”

Are the Criticisms Too Harsh?

Despite the critiques, Rayan Cherki had a notable first half against Ukraine, registering 89% pass accuracy with only 15 lost balls out of 91 touches. Some media praise him, with journalist Philippe Carayon stating, “I’m surprised by the media’s harshness towards Cherki’s performance; in the first hour, he was the best French player.”

Cherki himself is focused on refining his game. “I’m a simple person; I like to have fun and bring joy to my coach and the fans. I’ve said it often and will continue to do so. Just put me on the field, and I’ll try to do my job. Sometimes it can be complicated, like for everyone. Right now, I’m happy, but I know I can do much better,” he admitted. Beyond the media debates, he needs to maintain impressive performances with Manchester City to secure a spot for the 2026 World Cup, where competition will be fierce.