French magician from Lyon: Why Manchester City craves Rayan Cherki
Saturday's performance by Rayan Cherki in the national team jersey against Spain once again confirmed why Europe's biggest clubs are battling for the twenty-one-year-old Lyon midfielder. His twenty-seven-minute exhibition in the Nations League semifinal, where he scored and assisted, illustrates the potential that could revolutionize any team's attacking play. The young Frenchman entered the pitch at a moment when Spain led comfortably 5:1 and the match was heading toward a one-sided result. His arrival, however, immediately changed the game's dynamics. First, he struck with a technical shot from the edge of the box, then set up the second goal for Randal Kolo Muani with a cross. Cherki thus became only the third player since 2000 to both score and assist in his international debut. Moreover, during just twenty-seven minutes, he created three goal-scoring opportunities, ranking him among the most productive players of the entire match. Statistics from the past sea...