Rayan Cherki: Pep Guardiola sends Lionel Messi warning to Man City’s latest superstar

Rayan Cherki is already being billed as one of the signings of the summer after Manchester City picked him up for just €36 million from Lyon – but manager Pep Guardiola wants the attacker to learn from Lionel Messi.

Cherki has had few problems adapting to the rigours of the Premier League. Across all competitions, he has four goals and seven assists to his credit.

Guardiola has hailed the impact the 22-year-old has made but was less than impressed with the rabona assist that the four-cap France international gave Phil Foden in the Premier League clash against Sunderland on 6 December.

“I never saw Messi doing these kind of things,” Guardiola told the media. “The biggest quality of Messi is the simplicity. The simple things he does perfectly. The big talent that Rayan is, he has to learn a lot of these things. But he’s so young.

“I want players to do the simple things well and, after that, if you have special talent, he can do whatever he wants. But if it does not work, it will be a problem; he will be in trouble.”

Guardiola, who spent four years coaching Messi at Barcelona, says that Cherki elevates Man City because of the pace he brings to their attack.

“Rayan has special, unique quality,” he said. “Sometimes you love him, sometimes you hate him, but he is special. The composure, personality and the tempo he helps us to play, especially in the final third, with the rhythm we need.”

Rayan Cherki’s value has exploded at Man City

Cherki’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has rocketed since his move to Manchester City.

When he arrived at the Premier League side in a cut-price deal in the summer, he was worth just €37m but his ETV has since shot up to €53.6m.

But what he really brings to City is an intangible sense of excitement due to his freewheeling nature, which can unlock defences with a moment of individual brilliance.

In a side that relies so heavily on Erling Haaland’s finishing power, Cherki is a priceless option for Guardiola to call upon, and even if he is not yet playing with the simplicity of Messi, he is already emerging as one of the Premier League’s great difference makers.

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