Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, drops a bombshell after the Club World Cup victory over Wydad Casablanca, hinting that he was not in favor of signing Rayan Cherki. The 21-year-old Cherki, making his debut alongside Tijjani Reijnders, contributed to City’s triumph in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup with a 2-0 win.
Guardiola seemed to distance himself from the decision to bring in Cherki, which came after Kevin de Bruyne’s departure. The club invested a hefty sum of over £30 million in acquiring the French talent, a move that Guardiola implied was not entirely his choice.
In a post-match press conference, Guardiola admitted the challenge of replacing De Bruyne’s quality, stating, “Of course Kevin is difficult to replace we know that. 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. I’m really pleased he came here.”
The revelation by Guardiola raises questions about the dynamics between the manager and the club’s transfer decisions, adding an intriguing layer to Manchester City’s recent transfer activities. The spotlight is now on Cherki to prove his worth and justify the club’s investment in him, amidst suggestions of a variance in opinions within the City hierarchy.
