Rayan Cherki reveals why he joined Manchester City despite Arne Slot meeting | OneFootball

Manchester City’s new signing Rayan Cherki has lifted the lid on why he chose a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer despite interest from some of Europe’s best sides.

The France international has signed a five-year contract with Manchester City, which will keep him at the club till the end of the 2029-30 campaign, after passing a medical at the club’s facilities earlier this week.

City have paid an initial an initial €36 million transfer to Lyon with a potential for €6 million in add-ons for the 21-year-old attacking midfielder – who has become the club’s fourth summer signing after Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli and Tijjani Reijnders.

Manchester City are set to see Kevin De Bruyne confirm a two-year move to Napoli in the coming days after the Belgium international flew to Naples on Thursday to complete a medical and sign a contract with the recently-crowned Serie A champions.

After confirming in April that De Bruyne would be leaving at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, the pursuit of a replacement sped up as Manchester City identified Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as their number one target to succeed De Bruyne.

However, the finances involving a potential deal for Wirtz saw Manchester City withdraw interest in the Germany international, who has agreed to join Liverpool as negotiations progress between the clubs to finalise a transfer fee.

Manchester City’s director of football Hugo Viana – who has taken over from Txiki Begiristain – was tasked with the huge task of orchestrating a much-needed rebuild at the Etihad Stadium this summer – after a disappointing third-place Premier League finish this term for the Blues with 71 points.

And just like that – a few weeks on from the final game of their Premier League campaign against Fulham – Manchester City have announced four new signings and have bolstered their squad in time for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup campaign.

Cherki represents the best of the new acquisitions at the Etihad Stadium after announcing his talent to the international stage for France in the last 10 days, starring for the senior team on his debut with a goal and assist in their 5-4 defeat to Spain in the UEFA Nations League semi-final.

France manager Didier Deschamps rewarded Cherki for his 25-min game-changing cameo with a full debut against Germany in the third-place fixture – and Manchester City’s latest signing now has the chance to showcase his talents in a sky blue jersey after being named in the travelling squad for the Club World Cup.

Speaking about the Club World Cup in an in-house Manchester City media interview following his transfer, Cherki has outlined his ambitions of picking up his first piece of silverware at his new club.

“I want Manchester City to win it (the Club World Cup) because it’s the first time it will be played in history,” the France midfielder, who also met Liverpool manager Arne Slot in southern France before choosing to join Manchester City, said.

Cherki added: “It’s very important for me to play big cups like the (Club) World Cup and the Champions League.

“When I saw Manchester City wanted me and they play in the Champions League, it was very important. I want to play all the cups in my career and now I think it’s a good moment to play Champions League.”