In a recent report, Fichajes stated that Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Olympique Lyonnais starlet Rayan Cherki. It is understood that Los Blancos have identified the French attacker as an ideal replacement for Karim Benzema for the long run.
Cherki’s Impressive Rise In French Football
The 18-year-old is a product of Lyon’s academy and deserves a lot of credit for coming through the youth ranks before going on to establish himself as a regular feature for their senior team. Cherki has already made 45 senior appearances for his boyhood club, netting seven goals and securing six assists across all competitions.
The French whizkid managed to catch the eye as a substitute at the Groupama Stadium last season when he averaged 0.7 shots, 0.5 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Ligue 1. He was even tidy with his ball distribution after making 82.6% of his attempted passes in the French top-flight (stats via whoscored).
Cherki is getting closer to establishing himself as a first-team starter this season and has got the potential to become one of the best-attacking talents in world football someday. Hence, Carlo Ancelotti will do well to lure him to the Spanish capital in January or at the end of this campaign.
Should Los Blancos Get Cherki On Board This Summer?
Cherki is a moderately paced attacker who can dribble with the ball quite effectively without losing possession. He is a technically gifted footballer who has already registered some important goals and assists for Lyon thus far. The talented playmaker can be a joy to watch when he is running at full swing in the opposition half.
The French prospect is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also fill in as a wide player out on either flank if required. His versatility and potential make him a decent option for Real Madrid to consider for the long run.
Cherki could grow into a future star at the Santiago Bernebeu Stadium under a world-class manager like Ancelotti. However, the youngster is not a natural center-forward, so it’s difficult to see how he will be able to replace a world-class striker like Benzema in the years to come.
However, Cherki can still become a valuable member of Real Madrid’s match-day squad in the future as long as he is willing to work his socks off to get better on the training field. With all things considered, it makes sense for Los Blancos to engineer a move to get the French wonderkid on board as he will undeniably increase competition for places within their squad over the next few years.
