okay so now it has happened pep guardiola is preparing to welcome another young player into his squad and this time it is the highly talented rayan cherki from lyon after all the talks and rumours the young french star has now said yes to manchester city and the deal is very close to being completed many footballers around the world dream of playing under pep guardiola but only a few have what it takes to survive under his strict methods his history at manchester city has shown that not every talented player will succeed there even those who came in with big expectations and quality still ended up being pushed out ferran torres couldn’t fit into his plans and moved to barcelona kalvin phillips came with high hopes but struggled badly to get game time and was eventually loaned out joao cancelo had moments of brilliance but eventually fell out with the manager and was moved out as well aymeric laporte was once a solid defender for city but even he was eventually sidelined so when a player says he is ready for life under pep it is not just talk it is a bold statement rayan cherki has now made that bold statement and people are watching to see if he truly knows what lies ahead
he is just twenty one but already sounds mature and determined in his words he was asked about joining manchester city and how he feels about possibly playing under a coach as intense as pep guardiola cherki simply said he is ready for any system he said he works every day both physically and mentally so that he can adapt to any style of play he made it clear that his goal is not just to move to a big club but to grow as a person and a footballer he wants to be in a place that will push him to improve and help him develop his full potential his words show confidence and readiness and that is something pep would love to hear
the deal itself is expected to cost manchester city around thirty four million pounds which is roughly forty million euros and talks are already going on between city and lyon even though the final agreement has not been signed yet all parties are working closely and manchester city are now seen as the favourites to land his signature the reports also said that pep guardiola personally spoke to cherki and explained the club’s project and vision to him this is something pep doesn’t do for every player so it shows how serious city are about bringing him in once a coach like pep takes his time to speak with a player it usually means that player is a key part of his future plans
cherki is a special talent he has flair creativity and the ability to play in multiple positions which is something pep values highly in his players the man from santpedor always loves players who can do more than one job on the pitch for example he used john stones as a central midfielder even though he was a centre back he also used bernardo silva at left back when no one expected it and he once played ilkay gundogan as a false nine striker these are tactical moves that confuse opponents and give city an edge and with cherki who has already played in six different positions last season pep has found someone who can give him more tactical options
the positions cherki played last season include right wing attacking midfield left wing centre forward second striker and even central midfield he scored twelve goals and provided twenty assists across forty four appearances last season which is a big improvement from the previous season where he only scored three goals and had nine assists this shows that he is maturing fast and understanding the game better one of the most impressive things is that he got fourteen assists from the right wing alone which makes him a serious threat in that area of the pitch if he joins city he will likely compete with savinho and phil foden for a starting spot on the right side of the attack
cherki is also a product of a strong football background he has been coached by big names including thierry henry who is a legend in world football henry worked with cherki and helped him grow in terms of decision making and technical ability under henry’s guidance cherki started showing signs of maturity and consistency and that work is now paying off with big clubs coming after him
for manchester city fans this transfer could be exciting because they are always looking for young players who can light up the pitch and add energy to the squad since the likes of riyad mahrez left city have been looking for more creativity and depth in attack and cherki could be one of the players to bring that back his ability to dribble create space and set up goals can be very useful especially when city face teams that defend deep and make it hard to find openings
but despite his talent the main question remains can he survive under pep because playing under guardiola is not just about skill it is also about mentality hard work discipline and understanding tactical instructions even top players have struggled under him so for cherki to truly succeed he must be ready to listen learn and fight for his place he must be willing to adapt quickly and play anywhere the coach needs him because pep does not wait for players to catch up he expects instant impact and full commitment
city is already a very competitive team with players like kevin de bruyne foden alvarez and doku all fighting for places so cherki will not walk straight into the first eleven but if he trains well and proves himself he can earn his place because pep always rewards performance and effort the good thing is that cherki has already shown that he is not afraid of competition he said in his recent interview that he is ready for any system and that he works hard every day that mindset will help him in a squad full of world class players
this transfer also shows how manchester city are thinking ahead they know some of their senior players are getting older and might leave soon so they are already building the next generation of stars players like cherki could be part of that future core that keeps city at the top for years to come and with pep possibly entering the final years of his time at city he might want to leave behind a strong young squad that can continue winning even after he goes
it is also important to note that manchester city are not the only club who wanted cherki other top clubs have been watching him for a while but city acted fast and made the right moves speaking to the player early making him feel wanted and showing him a clear plan those things made a big difference and now they are close to winning the race for his signature
as the football world watches the final stages of the transfer unfold one thing is clear cherki has taken a big step in his career and if he signs for manchester city he will be entering one of the most intense football environments in europe but he will also be learning from one of the best managers in history if he listens works hard and keeps improving he could become one of the stars of the premier league and possibly follow the footsteps of other young players who came to city and became world class under pep
his journey is just beginning but the signs are promising his confidence his talent his work ethic and his willingness to grow are all pointing in the right direction the next few weeks will be important as the deal moves closer to completion but city fans are already excited and many believe that with time cherki could become a key player in the team whether he plays wide or centrally his creativity and intelligence could give city a new attacking spark and with pep guiding him the sky is the limit
football is full of surprises but sometimes a transfer just feels right and this one feels like it could be one of those special moves that changes a young player’s life and adds new energy to a team that is always chasing excellence if cherki truly is ready as he says then manchester city might have just found another gem to shine under their bright blue lights
