Manchester City have been incredibly busy on the transfer front this summer, making a number of big signings before the Club World Cup.
Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Marcus Bettinelli have all joined Manchester City over the past few weeks.
Man City also signed a number of top talents in January, with the likes of Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez all arriving in the winter window.
Etihad cult hero Gael Clichy has now spoken out about a signing Man City have already made, deeming him a “huge” deal and a “tactical weapon”.
Gael Clichy deems new Manchester City signing Rayan Cherki a ‘tactical weapon’ with ‘elite’ talent
Clichy took to social media to sing Cherki’s praises following City’s signing of the French midfielder from Lyon.
Clichy coached Cherki at France Under-21 level, so he knows better than most what the 21-year-old is like in training and behind the scenes.
“New Man City signing Rayan Cherki isn’t just a “talent.” He’s a tactical weapon,” Clichy wrote on LinkedIn.
“I had the privilege of coaching Rayan with France U21s, and as someone who’s played under Pep Guardiola at City, I can see exactly why this move makes sense.
“At Lyon, Rayan played off the right, the left, as a 10… even as a false nine. But it’s not just versatility. It’s variation. He doesn’t repeat actions. He reads the moment.
“Technically, he’s elite. First touch, close control, balance under pressure. But the real advantage is that he’s truly two-footed.
“Most players have a stronger side. With Rayan, you don’t know. That makes him unpredictable.
“Full-backs can’t show him one way. Midfielders can’t trap his angles. Centre-backs hate seeing him drift between the lines.
“In Pep’s system, that’s huge. City don’t just want players who follow patterns — they want players who disrupt them at the right time.
“Rayan can hold width or collapse the space. He creates overloads out wide, but also breaks low blocks with disguised passes and quick combinations centrally.”
What makes Rayan Cherki ‘different’ and especially ‘interesting’
Clichy went on to speak about what makes Cherki “different” from his peers and what makes him a potential game-changer for Guardiola.
The 21-year-old is “always decisive” and will find ways to change the game even during games when he’s not at his best, according to Clichy.
In addition, Clichy said Cherki will not be looking to operate on talent alone – he’s working hard to be even more efficient, which is what needs to be done under Guardiola.
“But here’s what makes him different: he’s always decisive,” Clichy said of Cherki. “Even when he’s not at his best, if you put him in the right areas, he’ll find a way to change the game.
“And that’s where it gets interesting.
“Because when you grow up knowing you can win matches on your own – when you’ve been “the difference” since you were eight years old – it’s easy to let go of the habits that make you consistent over 90 minutes.
“When being decisive is enough, efficiency can slip. Coaches start accepting it. Talent buys you leeway. But that won’t fly with Pep.
“What excites me is that Rayan already seems to be working on this. You can see the shift this season (more structure, more responsibility). Under Guardiola, he’ll take that further.
“City have turned ‘solid’ players into world-beaters. Rayan starts with the raw materials of something far beyond that.
“It will take time to reset habits that are deeply ingrained, but if anyone can do it, it’s Pep. And with the space to show his talent, Rayan’s ceiling is frightening.
“Some clubs buy profiles. City build ecosystems. Cherki doesn’t just fit. He expands what’s possible.”
