Rayan Cherki’s Manchester City recruitment detailed in behind-the-scenes documentary | OneFootball

A Prime Video documentary lays bare how Manchester City recruited Rayan Cherki in summer 2025, from data-led scouting to calls with Pep Guardiola. According to L'Équipe, the mini-series shows the club weighing him as a potential heir to Kevin De Bruyne, who had just left after 10 years.

Cherki quit Lyon to join City, then returned 10 goals and 15 assists in 52 games as City won two domestic cups. Guardiola was head coach until the end of last season, then Enzo Maresca took over.

Clips online show Txiki Begiristain, sporting director until July 2025, with successor Hugo Viana, reviewing models that condensed 43 indicators into seven figures to find De Bruyne-like profiles. Viana suggests Cherki could fit that profile within two years, then flags questions over mentality. He later says early information on Cherki was not very positive, while Ferran Soriano describes a perception he was chaotic.

Another scene has Soriano telling chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak that most coaches gave favourable feedback, with one negative view dating to Cherki’s youth, so any behaviour issues might be a myth. He notes rival interest and Cherki’s wish to speak with Guardiola. Al Mubarak urges action, calling the opportunity undervalued and warning that delays would alert others.

Guardiola, dining with Soriano, Begiristain and Viana, telephones Cherki days after France’s 2025 Nations League semi-final loss to Spain, when he scored on debut. The manager jokes he should have scored three and that the display added €10m to the price. Cherki calls Guardiola the best coach in the world, prompting a playful reply that such praise helps his case.

The transfer was sealed five days later, Lyon receiving just over €40m.

Source: L'Équipe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”