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- Head coach is overseeing a major summer revamp during the transfer window
- Cherki is one of a number of new recruits including Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri
- Watch every Club World Cup match free on DAZN. Sign Up Now
Pep Guardiola appeared to offer a hint that Manchester City’s signing of Rayan Cherki wasn’t his alone as he shared his thoughts on the new midfielder after his side’s first Club World Cup match.
The 21-year-old was one of the hottest prospects of the transfer market, with rivals Manchester United and Liverpool both thought to have circled the player on the heels of a successful season at Lyon.
Cherki was named UEFA Europa League Young Player of the Season after finishing as the competition’s top assist provider in the competition, and has been labelled one of finest technicians on the continent.
Guardiola’s side secured the midfielder for £34million as part of the club’s wholesale rebuild this summer, which has included drafting in Chelsea’s third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, former Wolves star Rayan Ait-Nouri and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.
But after assessing one of his first performances against Moroccan outfit Wydad AC, which saw the serial winners claim an opening 2-0 victory on American soil, Guardiola let slip a telling detail about his newest player.
‘Of course Kevin (De Bruyne) is difficult to replace, we know that,’ Guardiola told reporters.
‘For the quality he has, there is no doubt about it, but at the same time, the club decided on Rayan because he has incredible skills close to the box and great vision, pass in many things.
‘It was just a first game with tough, tough conditions,’ Guardiola added. ‘I’m really pleased he came here.’
Cherki for his part has been outspoken about how much wanting to work with Guardiola drove his desire to sign for the club.
‘When I spoke with Pep and he wanted me – he was very, very clear,’ Cherki told reporters this week. ‘That the system, the club, the city is very good. I want to win and I think City wants to win it all. For me that’s better.
‘When you see Rodri, he won the Ballon d’Or here – it’s clear that with City it’s possible and I am here for this.’
Guardiola is also thought to have discussed Cherki’s preferred position with the player after inking his deal, with the Catalan manager reassuring his new signing that he can be ‘free’.
‘I spoke with Pep about my position on the pitch and we spoke about what I enjoy when I’m on the pitch. It’s very good for me,’ Cherki continued.
‘He told me he loves a No10, but now I play all the positions in the pitch – so it’s not complicated because I just want to play.
‘Pep told me, “when you have the ball, you are free” which is very good for me because it’s my first quality to help the team.’
