Rayan Cherki is already winning fans on the blue side of his new home city by declaring that he wants to ‘kill’ Manchester United next season.
The 21-year-old is a new Manchester City signing this summer, arriving from Lyon in a £30m move.
It could prove to be a bargain signing, with the brilliantly talented forward having already racked up 185 appearances for Lyon and proving himself to be one of the most exciting prospects in Europe.
Cherki is preparing to make his Manchester City debut at the Club World Cup this week, hopefully against Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia on Wednesday, and he is already talking a good game.
The France international played against Manchester United in the Europa League last season with Lyon, in what turned out to be a classic two-legged contest in the quarter-finals.
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Cherki scored an injury time equaliser in the first leg in France to make the tie 2-2 for the return leg at Old Trafford.
That game again finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, before Cherki and then Alexandre Lacazette appeared to have put Lyon through by giving them a two-goal advantage in extra-time.
United had other ideas as Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire netted late on to give the Red Devils the most dramatic of 7-6 aggregate wins.
When Cherki put his team ahead at Old Trafford he grabbed his crotch, clearly fired up, and when asked about the game he already has revenge on his mind.
‘I’m here to win all the games,’ he said. ‘I don’t like when Manchester United won the game against Lyon because I am a Lyonnais. Now I am waiting for the game [to] kill them.’
He will not have to wait long to find out when Man City and Man Utd meet this season as the Premier League fixtures are announced this week.
As for where we will see the Frenchman play for City, he hopes not to be pinned down too rigidly to one position.
Cherki says Pep Guardiola has already granted him freedom when he is in possession, which is exactly what he wants.
Rayan Cherki’s 2024/25 season
Ligue 1
Apps: 22(8) Goals: 8 Assists: 11
Europa League
Apps: 11(1) Goals: 4 Assists: 8
‘I spoke with Pep about my position on the pitch and we spoke about what I enjoy when I’m on the pitch. That was very good for me,’ Cherki said.
‘Pep told me, “When you have the ball, you are free” which is very good for me because it’s my first quality to help the team.’
The new arrival on a five-year contract is likely to play centrally behind Erling Haaland, but he has dismissed comparisons to the now-departed Kevin De Bruyne.
‘I’m not Kevin De Bruyne, he is the legend,’ he said. ‘I’m here to help the team and to write my own story. I hope to win all the time with the team.’