Warren Zaire-Emery sends dangerous Rayan Cherki warning to France’s rivals ahead of FIFA World Cup | OneFootball

Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki is leaving his France teammates stunned ahead of the FIFA World Cup, with PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery hailing the 22-year-old as a genius after watching him in training and matches for Les Bleus.

Cherki scored France’s goal in last weekend’s pre-tournament friendly defeat to Ivory Coast, putting in an eye-catching display before the African side turned the game around.

The former Lyon man has carried his brilliant club form directly into the international fold, with his France teammates left in no doubt about the quality in their midst.

The praise comes after a debut Premier League season in which Cherki registered 10 goals and 15 assists across 52 appearances for Manchester City, establishing himself as one of the most exciting attacking players in English football and earning a nomination for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award alongside Erling Haaland.

Zaire-Emery: Sometimes he doesn’t know what he’s doing himself – it’s just genius

In conversation with Telefoot, Warren Zaire-Emery spoke glowingly about Cherki and the impact he has had on everyone around him in the France squad.

“I don’t think he impresses only me, he impresses many people,” Zaire-Emery said, as quoted by Maxifoot. “Sometimes he has moves, he himself doesn’t know what he’s doing.

“It’s just genius! When you have a player like Rayan, you have to give him the balls, he is all the time decisive so he is an incredible player.”

What is the wider context for Cherki at the World Cup?

Cherki has six senior caps and two goals for France heading into the tournament, with his place in Didier Deschamps‘ starting lineup not yet guaranteed despite his stellar club season.

The competition for places in the French attack is fierce, with Deschamps known to demand tactical discipline alongside individual quality from his players.

Cherki told Manchester City’s official media earlier this season that when he goes on the pitch he wants to make people “forget life for 90 minutes,” and his performances for both club and country this season suggest he is doing exactly that.

France open their World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16 in what will be Cherki’s most significant stage yet on the international front.