Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has delivered a glowing assessment of Rayan Cherki potential, insisting the French midfielder can achieve anything he sets his mind to during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of their matchday 18 trip away trip at Nottingham Forest, the Catalan tactician was effusive in his praise for the 22-year-old, who has settled impressively since his summer arrival from Lyon. When asked about the attacking midfielder’s ceiling, Guardiola offered a simple yet profound verdict.
“The sky is the limit, the people say that, right? It depends on his limits, what does he want to become, he can achieve it because of course he’s an incredibly talented player,” Guardiola stated.
Cherki joined the reigning Premier League champions in June for an initial fee of £34 million, and has already registered four goals and eight assists in 10 appearances across all competitions this season. The Lyon academy graduate wears the iconic number 10 shirt at City, a symbol of the faith placed in him by the club hierarchy.
His performances have drawn comparisons to City legend Kevin De Bruyne, with Guardiola previously describing him as one of the most talented players he has seen in his managerial career. The France international has dazzled supporters with moments of brilliance, including a spectacular rabona assist for Foden against Sunderland earlier this month.
Last season at Lyon proved to be Cherki’s breakout campaign. He finished the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season as the league’s top assist provider with 11 assists, adding 12 goals to his tally across all competitions. His stellar performances earned him the inaugural Ligue 1 Dribbler of the Year award and a place in the UNFP Team of the Year.
What Else?
Addressing the January transfer window, Guardiola remained cautious about potential new arrivals despite City’s injury struggles this season.
“Everything can happen. Last season, when we started it I never could’ve expected going into the transfer window with four or five players [being signed], we had [so many] players injured,” he explained.
The acknowledgement of City’s unpredictable approach to recruitment suggests the City could yet make moves before the window closes on February 3. However, for now, Guardiola appears content to nurture the Rayan Cherki potential already at his disposal, confident the young Frenchman can develop into one of Europe’s elite playmakers under his guidance.
