Name: Cherki. First name: Rayan. Profession: footballer and … artist. At 21, Lyonnais is a real talent that stinks football as some people like to say. His class gestures in particular ignited social networks where many OL supporters followed all his matches in the young categories. They were waiting to see him at work with the pros, which he joined at the age of 16, to confirm at the highest level. But his confirmation took time to come. Despite obvious qualities, the 2003 generation player, that of Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala, sometimes lacked regularity, maturity and simplicity in his gestures. He also had trouble finding his place under the orders of certain coaches, including Peter Bosz or Fabio Grosso. Laurent Blanc and Pierre Sage better identified the footballer and the young man. It was with them that he progressed the most. Paulo Fonseca is now taking advantage of French, which was however close to a departure last summer.
It may have served him as a click since he had his best season in his training club. Currently, Cherki is 8 goals and 18 assists in 34 appearances in all competitions. It should be noted that he is as good on French soil as in Europe, where he has scored 2 goals and delivered 8 assists in the Europa League. Power holder, the native of Lyon spent a CAP and has become almost essential for his own. Enough to do the business of John Textor and OL, who will have no trouble finding a buyer this summer. Maybe he will come from England, where Liverpool was cited among his contenders. Since Friday, many English fans have also been ready to welcome him with wide open arms. It must be said that Rayan Cherki made a very strong friendly impression on the U21 selection of England.
Cherki finally explodes at the highest level
In all the right shots, he made the display of all his qualities. Like a maestro, he directed his teammates on the wand, serving with precision and talent Quentin Merlin on equalization (1-1) and Hugo Ekitike, after a brilliant and millimeter opening, on the goal of 2-1. Then, he put on the scorer costume at the end of the match to score the fifth goal of the Blueberries from the left in the victory 5 to 3. But we cannot summarize his match to his statistics. Cherki had a real impact on the game of Gérald Batic's players. A successful performance which was a great answer to Didier Deschamps, who did not summon it with the A during this month of March. The coach preferred to bet on a profile like that of Désiré Doué, rather than that of Maghnes Akliouche (ASM) or Rayan Cherki, whose performances would certainly have opened the doors of the French team in the past. This would have had nothing surprising that a player in such a form was called and tested by the tricolor staff.
But this was not the case this time. On March 13, DD was clear on his case and that of Akliouche. “These are also two very good players who do beautiful things in their clubs, with not identical profiles. But they are supposed to be affected by the Euro Hopes, which does not mean that they could not come in A. ” Last night, after the qualification of the Blues for the Final Four of the League of Nations, the tricolor coach opened the door to the OL player a little more. “That Rayan, like others, have the potential to come to the France A team: yes, of course. There are people to confirm. He did very nice things with his club, he was decisive in this match against England. “ The door is therefore not closed, but the versatile attacking midfielder, which has left the hopes due to a contusion on the left foot, will have to continue on its momentum and play elbows.
In the Blues waiting room
Because the places are expensive with the A. Désiré Doué, whose profile appeals more to the tricolor staff, rather made a good impression for his first selection last night. So we can hardly imagine DD leave an offensive player aside. In the middle, Cherki's creative profile could do a lot of good while the game offered in recent months by the 2018 world champions has been rather bland and flavorless. But the performance of Michael Olise, a decisive scorer and passer last night as a playmaker, met the expectations of the staff. Which is not necessarily good news for Cherki. Regarding other players in the midfield, Deschamps seems to want to move forward with elements that have a little more experience in the French team or who have different profiles such as Mattéo Guendouzi or Manu Koné. Another point which does not plead in his favor, the coach could be tempted to leave him available to the hopes, who will participate in the Euro U21 2025 this summer. What delay a possible summons with the A, where he must deal with strong competition and DD's desire to rely on a group that has lived well together for several months.
It should also be added that other players are waiting to have their chance, like Maghnes Akliouche. An element whose name also very often comes up. Despite his beautiful season and his high -level release on Friday with the Bleuets, Rayan Cherki will certainly have to take his pain in patience still before putting on the Blues jersey. All this can do the business of Italy and especially Algeria. Two countries with which Lyonnais can also play because of its family origins. In Algeria, we insist that we do not want to put pressure on the player, who will make his choice. But some local media indicate that Cherki will decide for his international future after having completed his departure from OL this summer 2025. A priori, it is France that seems to have the most likely for the moment since it has evolved with young selections from the U16. It remains to be seen whether Deschamps will be the coach who will open the door of the Blues or if Cherki will have to wait for his successor or go elsewhere to evolve at the highest international level. This is the life of an artist!
