“One of the huge talents I’ve ever seen!” – Pep Guardiola bedazzled by Manchester City summer signing

Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City and France star Rayan Cherki is one of the best talents he has ever worked with during his career.

City won a hotly-contested race to sign Cherki from Lyon this summer and secured the 22-year-old’s arrival in time for the FIFA Club World Cup as Guardiola planned for life beyond Kevin De Bruyne, who joined Napoli on a free transfer this summer.

Cherki starred on his senior France debut in a 5-4 defeat to Spain in the UEFA Nations League in June, coming off the bench to score and assist in a world-class cameo for Les Bleus, with Manchester City fans excited to witness the Frenchman in their sky blue colours.

After scoring on his Premier League debut against Wolves in August, Cherki was handed his first Premier League start in a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, with the Manchester City summer signing failing to impress as adjusts to life at the Etihad Stadium amidst a period of transition for the club after a busy transfer window.

Cherki suffered an injury in the days leading to Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the end of August – an issue that has kept the Frenchman on the sidelines amidst City’s resurgence in the last few months.

The Blues have climbed up from the bottom half to second place in the Premier League table after a string of wins, with Erling Haaland’s goals and Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics between the sticks proving to be key difference makers for Manchester City since the September international break.

The Etihad Stadium gave a warm reception to Cherki on Saturday as the midfielder came off the bench against Everton to mark his long-awaited return from injury. It didn’t take much time for Cherki to pick up right where he left off, though.

City were in a commanding position when Cherki came on against Everton and the France international made a series of presentable chances for Erling Haaland – on the hunt for a hat-trick against the Toffees – soon after his introduction.

“Rayan is one of the huge talents I’ve ever seen in my career; technically, individually – he’s top,” Guardiola said on Cherki ahead of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League group-stage against Villarreal on Tuesday evening.

“The question is how he (Cherki) settles in what we want to do, how he reads every action and this started really well in the (Club) World Cup, but after had a few weeks off and step by step. I have the feeling most of times, not all the time, the ball comes to him, the situation is better.

“But not all the time he (Cherki) has to play making exceptional things. He has to play just football. But he has something. The pass for Erling (Haaland) in the last moments (against Everton) or the many things he can do.

“And he (Cherki) is a guy I like a lot that he doesn’t feel pressure, always wants to play with the ball, like a street player, ‘Give me the ball, give me the ball!’ But it’s a short time here, and he needs a little bit of time.”

Cherki has travelled with the Manchester City squad to Spain and is in line to feature against Villarreal as he looks to progress his fitness and get a run of games under his belt to convince Guardiola he is ready to be named in the starting XI.