Last summer, several talents from Olympique Lyonnais’ 2002-2003 generation took flight. Castello Lukeba joined RB Leipzig. Malo Gusto moved to Chelsea. Eventually, Bradley Barcola was recruited through Paris Saint-Germain. Elements that have grown and progressed alongside Rayan Cherki, the greatest hope of this generation. Integrated into the professional team since he was 16 years old, the Lyon venue has captured all eyes and the spotlight on him. This propelled him to grow faster than young people his age.
This was stated in a long interview with So Foot. He explained that he had to be informed at the finish line, as he admits that he was thrown very quickly towards the deep goal. He also had to move on with some strain on his shoulders and admitted to making some mistakes. Aware that he helps a lot to keep the ball, he is an artistic player who dares a lot, he is a lover of beautiful games, beautiful gestures and old-fashioned football. But this season, he is not allowed to be a starter and admits that he is having a slightly more complicated year.
To help him, the youngster, who still dreams of one day winning the Ballon d’Or like Karim Benzema, can still count on his family, especially his father, who has allowed him to keep his feet on the ground and not get carried away. He has also surrounded himself with professionals to do many behind-the-scenes paintings. In addition to more weight education sessions at OL, Cherki has had the facilities of a chef and a nutritionist. He also paints a lot with videos with his agent and practices boxing in his spare time to evacuate.
Especially since the player born in 2003 has a lot to manage between his season in Lyon, his goals in the France U21 and U23 national team and his future. At the end of his contract in June 2025, he will achieve a turning point in his career. adventure with Les Gones this summer. As we explain on our website, the citizens of the Groupama Stadium have not closed the door on a Rayan Cherki exit since last winter. To manage his career, he can count on the recommendation of his agent, who has joined the team controlled by Fayza Lamari, the mother of a certain Kylian Mbappé. The two talents are very close, but they don’t talk much about football.
However, we believe that the 2018 world champion discussed PSG with Lyonnais. In the 2023 winter transfer window, Cherki’s call was discussed in the capital: “I had in mind to get the club out of where it was, so I couldn’t see myself leaving like that. But without Laurent Blanc (who played it, editor’s note), the question might have been different. Right now, I’m focusing on the end of the season, one of the things to play for despite everything we’ve been through. When the time comes to ask myself those questions, I will ask them without any worries. “Is it conceivable to leave the cocoon of Lyon and go abroad?
“When you’re too melancholy. . . (Stopped) I don’t think I’ve been melancholy. I have been treated delicately and very few excuses have been made for me. That’s not the case when you’re “thinking. It was very me because we expected more from other players. The fans know what I’m capable of because of my qualities. These are debates I had with Lacaz. ” We, after a bad game, will go back to pointing directly at us. “The player, who admitted to being in high demand through both agents and clubs, indicated that he did not calculate all this. But he did make a confession about the club of his dreams: Real Madrid. In fact, he may have just signed there when he was younger.
“Truth be told, I wasn’t even aware of the discussions. My parents and siblings used to sneak into clubs. (Calls his brother) You’ve been to Milan, I didn’t even know it! Madrid, I discovered it the day my mom brought me a shirt signed by the players. “Rayan Cherki doesn’t close any doors. Not even the one that leads to Saudi Arabia. “Today, it’s very, very, very, very far from my ideas. They can give me EUR 600 million a day, but I don’t pass. I need to play in Europe, enjoy it here and then we’ll go and see. . . In the future, of course, I may just tap there. It’s a Muslim country, those are vital things for me. I’ll see. At the end of my career, where is the Saudi league?”
Meanwhile, Rayan Cherki plays for Olympique Lyonnais. This season he has made 31 appearances in all competitions. But he started only 19 games. In the eleven with Laurent Blanc, he had more difficulties with Fabio Grosso. The Italian coach didn’t do him any favours and even left him out of Marseille at the end of October, because he suspected that he was the mole in the Lyon dressing room. With Pierre Sage, the 20-year-old has discovered a coach who believes in him.
Despite everything, the 44-year-old has not made him an essential player in the squad. Cherki will have to prove himself again, as he competes with Ernest Nuamah, Malick Fofana and Saïd Benrahma. He is fighting for his place, who has scored 3 goals and provided 6 assists this season. He will also be selected in the France U21 and U23 national teams, where Thierry Henry likes his tastes but expects more from him. Whether it’s at the OL or with Les Bleuets, Cherki will still have to get everyone on the same page. The ball is in your court!