Cherki was one step away from a PSG transfer

There are few artists left in football today like Rayan Cherki. The values the young Frenchman embodies as he caresses the ball are aesthetics, enjoyment and pleasure for the crowd… After all, that was once the very essence of the world’s most important secondary pursuit. Yet amid all that beauty and unpredictability, Cherki also manages to be ruthlessly productive, which is why people have been saying for some time that Manchester City practically pulled off the bargain of the decade when they signed him from Lyon for 36,500,000 euros.##TWITTER_<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Rayan Cherki sent a LONG VOICE MESSAGE to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi in 2024, THANKING him for the opportunity to join the club! Cherki was EXCITED to join PSG and had already agreed personal terms. PSG and Lyon had even begun exchanging documents for a €15 MILLION transfer, including bonuses, but in the end the deal never happened. — @lequipe</p>&mdash; The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) <a href="https://x.com/TouchlineX/status/2109713670326583316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>##But let us remember that just over two years ago, in June 2024, Cherki could have left the Groupama Stadium for a mere 15,000,000 euros. Former Lyon president John Textor, in search of some much-needed financial relief, had placed him on the transfer list at a price well below his true value. The respected French newspaper L’Equipe reports that Cherki, then 20, was on the verge of signing for Paris Saint-Germain. He was so excited that he even sent a lengthy voice message to Nasser Al-Khelaifi. However, fate had other plans, and the attacking midfielder never made it to the Parc des Princes.##LINKED_NEWS_54427##Borussia Dortmund could not resist the bargain price either. They entered the race and disrupted PSG’s plans by offering Cherki something the French champions could not guarantee: regular playing time. Cherki reconsidered his decision and realised that he wanted to play consistently after all. Then Dortmund changed their minds because of internal disagreements at the club, while PSG pulled out, frustrated by Cherki’s sudden change of plans and direction.##LINKED_NEWS_50403##The still-unproven magician decided to stay at Lyon, extend his contract and secure a release clause that would allow him to leave a year later. Manchester City activated that very clause, snapping up one of the most talented footballers on the planet for a modest fee by today’s transfer-market standards. In his first season at City, his debut campaign in the Premier League, he produced four goals and as many as 12 assists in just 1,786 minutes on the pitch. But even more impressive than the numbers were the impact he made and the ease with which Cherki plays football and toys with his opponents. He has made six appearances at the start of the new season and already has four goals and two assists, suggesting that the best campaign of his career could be ahead of him.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 2Tuesday19.45: (2.50) Lens (3.45) Sporting (2.75)19.45: (3.50) Sabah (3.50) Slavia Praha (2.05)22.00: (1.20) Arsenal (6.75) Lille (14.0)22.00: (2.00) Atl.Madrid (4.00) Man.Utd. (3.40)22.00: (8.50) Galatasaray (6.00) Barcelona (1.30)22.00: (1.25) Inter (6.50) Club Brugge (10.0)22.00: (1.75) RB Leipzig (4.60) PSV (3.80)22.00: (18.0) Viking (11.0) Bayern (1.10)22.00: (2.15) Villareal (3.50) Napoli (3.30)