How Rayan Cherki has become Lyon's biggest problem

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 28 Sep 2023 08:34 CDT
• 4 min read

Rayan Cherki has been tipped for superstardom even before he made his Lyon debut in 2019 as a prodigious 16-year-old.

Soon afterwards, he found himself in hot water for showboating against opponents twice his age, but now that same attitude is threatening to push him away from OL, where he has been since he was a seven-year-old

Indeed, Cherki has been a name that has been around for so long, it’s easy to forget that he only turned 20 in August.

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Since that time, he is a player who has been linked with a myriad of big clubs. Real Madrid have long been cast as admirers or the technically gifted youngster, while in the summer he was touted with moves to both Chelsea and PSG.

He has become accustomed to transfer speculation. It has quite literally followed him for every moment of his professional career. Cherki, though, remains at Lyon.

Many players would be hailed as heroes for showing such restraint, yet there is trouble brewing in the Rhone Valley and already the wonderkid’s career appears to be approaching it’s first truly defining moment.

PROFILE: Who is Rayan Cherki? The Lyon prodigy wanted by Chelsea and PSG

Lyon are enduring a wretched season. They are second from bottom of Ligue 1 with the poorest offensive record in the league, having netted just three times. Remarkably, they have not led in any of their six games.

OL have already dispensed with head coach Laurent Blanc and last week appointed 2006 World Cup winner Fabio Grosso as their new boss.

The Italian’s first major decision was to bench Cherki. It was a huge call given that the creative attacker had been Lyon’s chief spark of positivity in the scoreless home draw against Le Havre the previous weekend. Grosso’s gamble didn’t work. Lyon lost 1-0 and were utterly outplayed by surprise league leaders Brest.

Cherki causing a fracture at Lyon

The thinking behind the decision has now become apparent. RMC reports that there is disquiet in the dressing room because Cherki is taking the role of vocal leader that Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso have apparently abdicated.

Lacazette’s body language has been awful all season. It is reported that he is frustrated by the lack of quality in the squad but is unwilling to state it. Rather than be the on-field leader he was last season, he has been relegated to the role of chief sulk judging by his performances.

The void that the ex-Arsenal striker has left has been filled by Cherki, whose loud and forthright manner in the dressing room echoes the confidence he shows on the field. But this is an issue in itself.

“He’s got a mocking way of speaking sometimes,” journalist Sofiane Zouaoui explained. “This poses a real problem in training. There’s been friction recently.

“Some players feel that he’s not legitimate because he doesn’t make an effort without the ball.”

There is also a problem at Lyon where there is a clique, with new players not readily welcomed. It has created a “disgusting atmosphere” around the squad, which the Cherki issue only adds to.

Lyon’s project appears one that needs ripped up and started from scratch.

Cherki may clearly be one of their best players, if not already their best, but for the good of the team he is someone who could now be allowed to leave in January.

Chelsea and Real Madrid should take note.

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