Rayan Cherki faced intense scrutiny after a disappointing World Cup campaign with France that ended in a fourth-place finish in the United States. The Manchester City playmaker managed just 124 minutes across seven appearances, starting only once during the third-place play-off defeat against England. According to pundit Walid Acherchour on RMC's After Foot, the tournament proved a complete failure for the former Lyon talent, who failed to make any meaningful impact on the pitch.
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Subscribe Sekarang →Frustration quickly crept in for Cherki following a brief three-minute cameo against Senegal, especially as Michael Olise was chosen ahead of him to fill central roles. Former manager Didier Deschamps maintained patience and granted him minutes, but Cherki openly displayed his dissatisfaction on camera. Based on reports from the tournament, his conduct raised eyebrows, notably during the match against England where he was substituted at half-time and later seen lounging nonchalantly near the bench.
With Zinedine Zidane widely expected to take charge of Les Bleus in the coming days, Cherki must now rebuild his reputation on the international stage. According to Acherchour, any incoming manager would face serious red flags regarding Cherki's commitment and team integration. The young attacking midfielder must address his attitude quickly to secure his future with both France and his club manager Enzo Maresca at Manchester City.