Rayan Cherki Shines Bright in Just 15 Minutes on the Pitch

Many Manchester City fans were full of praise for new signing Rayan Cherki following his brief but eye-catching appearance in the team’s victory over Juventus.

Cherki played only 15 minutes in City’s final group stage match of the FIFA Club World Cup against Juventus, but his performance left a strong impression and quickly went viral on social media.

Despite goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, an own goal by Pierre Kalulu, Phil Foden, and Savinho securing a convincing 5–2 win for City, it was Cherki’s cameo that stole the spotlight.

Erling Haaland made headlines by scoring his 300th career goal, reaching the milestone faster than legends like Cristiano Ronaldo (554 matches), Lionel Messi (418 matches), and Kylian Mbappe (409 matches).

However, it was Cherki's dazzling display during his short time on the field that had fans talking. The 21-year-old joined Manchester City from Lyon for £34 million and made an instant impact in his debut, showcasing brilliant technical skill—particularly when he outmaneuvered Filip Kostić, drawing cheers from the crowd in Florida.

Cherki has reportedly impressed in training since his arrival and revealed that Pep Guardiola had spoken to him about his role in the team.

“I spoke to Pep about my position on the pitch and what I enjoy about football. That was important for me,” said Cherki. “He said he loves number 10s, but now I’m playing anywhere. It’s not complicated—I just want to play.”

Cherki replaced Rayan Aït-Nouri in the 75th minute against Juventus and immediately made his presence known, delivering a performance full of flair and technique.

Having already scored his first goal for City in a win over Al Ain, Cherki continues to receive strong backing from the club's management. Hugo Viana, City’s Director of Football, stated:

“We’re delighted to have Rayan at City. He’s an incredibly talented player and has the potential to develop into a world-class footballer under Pep’s guidance.”

With Manchester City’s full support, Cherki is expected to become one of the top players in the world in the near future. According to the schedule, City will face Al Hilal in the Round of 16 on July 1.