Zinedine Zidane, the newly appointed manager of the French national team, said he would have loved to play alongside Rayan Cherki during his own playing career.
Zidane, a former France midfielder, has taken over the reins from Didier Deschamps, who led the side for 14 years. France, widely regarded as one of the most talented squads in the world, finished fourth at the 2026 FIFA World Cup but is now looking to build a new era of success under Zidane.
During his first match in charge, Zidane started Cherki in a 1‑0 win over Turkey. The young winger had also appeared in the third‑place playoff of the 2026 World Cup, and is expected to become a central figure for Les Bleus under the new manager.
Zidane said, “I would have loved to play with a player like Rayan Cherki when I was a player. A real baller. He finds such incredible passes, and he even knows how to play without the ball.”
After a move from Lyon last summer, Cherki has made 15 appearances for Manchester City, scoring two goals and providing three assists.
He has also earned 15 caps for France, netting two goals and adding one assist for the national side.
With Zidane’s arrival, France aims to harness the talents of players like Cherki to secure a new chapter of competitive success on the international stage.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
