Rayan Cherki: I can win the Ballon d'Or at Manchester City
Rayan Cherki says he chose to sign for Manchester City as he believes he can fulfil his dream of winning the Ballon d'Or at the club.
The 21-year-old joined from Lyon this week for a fee of €36.5million (£30.9m, $41.7m) and has been training with his new team-mates ahead of the Club World Cup.
As a 15-year-old the French midfielder stated his ambition to win the Champions League and be named the best player in the world.
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'When you see Rodri win the Ballon d'Or it is clear (that) with Manchester City it is possible,' he said at the club's training base in Miami, Florida.
'I'm here for this.'
Cherki's cameo appearance for France in the Nations League final defeat to Spain almost inspired his country to a late comeback.
His trickery and dribbling ability is key to his game but Pep Guardiola has been accused in the past of dulling creative players.
Cherki does not hold any fears that this will happen to him.
'Pep said to me when you have the ball you are free,' he said.
'It is very good for me as it is my first quality. He said to me, 'I love number 10 but now you play in all the positions of the pitch.' It is not complicated because I just want to play.
'I spoke with Pep and he wanted me. It was very, very clear because the system, the club, the city is very good and I want to win at Manchester City. And he wants to win it all.'
Cherki arrives at City just as Kevin de Bruyne leaves for Napoli on a free transfer.
Across his ten seasons at City, the Belgian recorded 119 assists — the second most in Premier League history — and Cherki will be expected to replace some of that creativity.
'I'm not Kevin de Bruyne, he is a legend,' Cherki said.
'I am here to help the team and to write my own history. In the team we have the best player in the world and for playing I will help the team. For this I work and wait my return. When I play I will help my team and want to win.
'I'm ready for this because I want to win all of the competitions and I want to play all (of them). We have a lot of games but that is football and it is very good to play the first FIFA club world cup in the history and I want (to make) impressions.'
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New York Times
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Nine things I learned about new Spurs boss Thomas Frank while covering Brentford
Thomas Frank has been announced as Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach. He spent nearly seven years in charge of Brentford and guided them from the Championship into the Premier League. But his latest role will be the biggest challenge of Frank's career. He has no experience of European competition and Spurs are competing in the Champions League next season, while sections of the fanbase and some of the players are upset about Ange Postecoglou's sacking. I covered Brentford's first three seasons in the Premier League and saw plenty of evidence to suggest he can be a success in north London. Here are the nine key things I learned from watching him up close… The list of players who have significantly improved under Frank is a long one. Ollie Watkins transformed from a left-winger into a potent centre-forward. Ivan Toney became an England international, while David Raya evolved into one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and earned a move to Arsenal. Bryan Mbeumo only scored four goals in 35 appearances during Brentford's first season in the top flight. He has since become their star player, scoring 20 times last season. Only Mohamed Salah (29), Alexander Isak (23) and Erling Haaland (22) scored more. Mikkel Damsgaard struggled with injuries during his first two years with Brentford, but Frank kept believing in him. Frank switched to a 4-2-3-1 system for the 2024-25 campaign, which brought the best out of Damsgaard as he registered 10 assists, the joint-fourth highest in the division. Frank encourages his players to do a lot of individual work on their biggest strengths and weaknesses. He is excellent at subtly tweaking his tactics to maximise a player's potential. Kristoffer Ajer is a great example of this. Brentford signed Ajer from Celtic in July 2021 to mainly play as a centre-back. The Norway international's powerful, surging runs from deep mean he is a fantastic option at right-back and that is where he has produced his best performances. Frank gave Toney a crucial piece of advice when the forward first joined Brentford from Peterborough back in August 2020. 'I tried too hard to try to get the ball in the box,' Toney told The Athletic in July 2021. 'I was trying to do things I wouldn't normally do. But Thomas spoke to me and said, 'Just anticipate where the ball is going to be and where it should be. Nine times out of 10, it doesn't come there, but the 10th time it does. You get a chance and that's the chance you need'. Advertisement 'That was key and I took that on board. That one bit of advice made me score a lot.' In games when Brentford dominated possession and needed to break down a low block, Frank would drop midfielder Vitaly Janelt into the left-sided centre-back role to give them better precision and control on the ball from defence. Then he could deploy a more attacking midfielder ahead of him. Depending on the strength of the opposition, he would alternate between 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 during their first two years in the Premier League. They recorded two victories over Man City in the 2022-23 campaign by eliminating the supply to Erling Haaland. Frank empowers set-piece coaches and Brentford created lots of chances from throw-ins too. It is this attention to detail that will help him to make a positive impact at Spurs. Brentford recorded some incredible results under Frank, including beating Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad in November 2022. Brentford took the lead through Toney but Man City were on top after Phil Foden's equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Frank could have tried to hold on for a point, but he saw an opportunity to win. He sent on Yoane Wissa and Josh Dasilva, and both played a key role in Toney's late winner. The previous year, Brentford were losing at home to fellow newly promoted Watford. 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New York Times
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Newcastle, Eddie Howe and a supposed preference for Premier League transfers
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The Premier League is unique, and those who have shown they can perform in the division carry less risk. Yet that is merely one factor in Howe's decision-making. When Guimaraes, Botman, Isak and Tonali were proposed, Premier League-hardened alternatives were also floated — some of which would have been cheaper — but Howe pushed for those four. They were deemed to be the right players at the right price. For Isak, Newcastle spent more than they intended to, at Howe's behest. With Tonali, a senior source, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, stressed in 2023 that the 'stars had aligned', with Milan's need to sell and Newcastle's opportunism combining to secure what now appears a knockdown price (even considering his 10-month betting suspension). In each case, Newcastle took a calculated gamble. Every transfer carries uncertainty, but there is an increased risk when players move country, especially when they have never played in the Premier League before. 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He wants quality and he wants to mitigate risk, so that requires a mixture of foreign and domestic acquisitions. Just as has been the case throughout his tenure. (Top photo by Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Shopping for Amorim and Man Utd: From Osimhen to David, who could be the ideal No 9?
Another transfer window, another shopping list for Manchester United. In previous summers, The Athletic went shopping for Erik ten Hag to find players who best suited the Dutchman's system at United. In 2025, there is a new head coach in Ruben Amorim, but the principle remains the same: which players might be a perfect fit at Old Trafford? Advertisement We're looking at strikers to begin with, but devising a shortlist is difficult. United will be without European football in the 2025-26 season, and their precarious financial situation means Amorim will not be blessed with a big budget. It is tricky, but not impossible… Amorim's successful four and a half years in charge of Sporting CP saw his team become known for their 3-4-3 shape, which pressed high, defended stubbornly and enjoyed quick combination play out wide. His 231 games in charge saw him start with the 6ft 1in target man Andraz Sporar as his primary centre-forward. In February 2021, the club spent a record €16million (£14m/$18m in today's exchange) to reunite Amorim with Paulinho, whom he had previously worked with at Braga. The Brazilian is similarly tall (6ft 2 in) and capable of playing as a target man, but he was also adept at running the channels and stretching defences. Viktor Gyokeres was another stalwart of Amorim's Sporting, signing in the summer of 2023 from Coventry City and scoring 29 league goals in his debut campaign. From a very quick summary of Amorim's time at Sporting, he likes the following things from a centre-forward: United's acquisition of Matheus Cunha, coupled with the pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo, suggests the club may be better off searching for a striker who prefers to stay central and play on the last line of a defence. This hypothetical No 9 would push opposition back lines towards their own goal, giving further space for Fernandes and other team-mates to exploit. If one combined the strengths of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund into a single centre-forward, then the head coach would have 75 per cent of what he needs. Amorim has previously stated he wants the Zirkzee to be 'more selfish' when playing as a No 9. His strengths as a link-up man will present an interesting alternative in the coming campaign. If you have the money and know-how to get a deal done for Victor Osimhen, you should sign Victor Osimhen. That's what Galatasaray discovered in 2024-25, picking up the Nigeria international on a season-long loan from Napoli. Osimhen scored 37 goals in 41 games (26 goals in 30 league matches), as the Turkish club won a domestic double at a relative canter. He maintained a similar goalscoring rate across his four seasons in Naples, averaging over 4.0 shots per game in Serie A and healthily overperforming his expected output with bustling movement and uncontainable power in the box. Osimhen's goalscoring qualities are beyond doubt. During Napoli's title-winning season of 2022-23, Serie A defenders attempted to double up on him, but it didn't work. He scored 26 league goals and won the Golden Boot. The striker went to Turkey last August following a falling out with Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, while manager Antonio Conte made it clear he preferred Romelu Lukaku as his No 1 striker. Osimhen's contract is reported to be worth £10million a year, expiring in summer 2026. De Laurentiis has a reputation for being a difficult negotiator, but he will have to find an exit route for Osimhen before one of the best strikers in the world becomes a free agent. Advertisement Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle wondered aloud recently that a club 'like Manchester United, or maybe Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid' may suit Osimhen. But United would likely have to sell to fund a deal, and the striker would likely ask for wages on par with the club's highest earners. But he might be worth the risk. Gyokeres may be a favourite of Amorim, but he is also of interest to Arsenal this summer. Why? Well, Gyokeres is the apex goalscoring predator of the Portuguese leagues — even if you strip out the 12 penalties he converted last season in his total of 39 league goals. 'Gyokeres wants to go directly to goal,' one of his youth coaches in Sweden, Peter Kisfaludy, told The Athletic in November 2024. 'He is totally ruthless.' Data from SkillCorner helps to back up that claim, ranking Gyokeres in the 89th percentile of strikers across Europe's top seven leagues for the quantity of runs in behind made per 30 minutes of team possession. He also likes to run the channels, operating almost exclusively ahead of the ball rather than coming short to link with team-mates. The 27-year-old has taken the circuitous route to football's top table, but has developed into one of Europe's premier forwards. A season and a half working under Amorim saw him hone a particular run from central areas into the channels to collect the ball. From there, he has the match intelligence and ball-striking ability to either go for goal himself or provide a killer pass. The striker's previous knowledge of playing up front in Amorim's 3-4-3 means he should – in theory – adjust to life well should a move to Manchester materialise. That said, there are some concerns as to how the Gyokeres' game will scale up against the stronger and more agile defences found in the Premier League. Advertisement The Canada forward has scored 109 goals in 232 appearances for Lille. But their third-highest goalscorer walks away on a free transfer in order to test himself at a higher level. David's qualities make him an interesting target. Spells as a left-sided forward and a No 10 have seen him develop his playmaking skills, and he combines well with others in and around the box. Watch him with United-tinted glasses on and his play can remind you of a young Anthony Martial. The 25-year-old is a consistent finisher, too: his goals-per-game ratio has generally trended above or around his expected rate across the last four seasons in France. He thrives in open space and playing on the counter-attack, and knows how to eke out a fraction of a yard within the penalty area to get a shot off, too. There are some questions over his back-to-goal game, but David is the sensible option for any club that's a little sour that Liam Delap has opted for Chelsea. Jean-Philippe Mateta presents a tried-and-tested Premier League-experienced option. The French striker has 30 Premier League goals since December 2023, and was key in Crystal Palace's surge in the second half of last season, which ultimately saw them claim the FA Cup. Mateta has two years left on his contract and is talking to Palace about a new deal, but would probably be open to an offer at the right price. Palace, however, would drive a hard bargain in terms of a fee, given they would need to spend big on a replacement. His high xG per shot value of 0.17 (below) points to a penalty-box striker, strong and elusive in his movement to consistently generate high-quality chances close to goal. Ask Matthijs de Ligt to recommend a striker to senior staff, and he may mention Samu Aghehowa. The 21-year-old scored two goals for Porto during a 3-3 draw with United in the Europa League in October. First, besting De Ligt for a header in the penalty area… Then, in the second half, he was part of a blistering counter-attacking move… Aghehowa ticks off several Amorim-friendly boxes for a centre-forward. His tally of 25 goals in 42 games has put the rest of Europe on notice, but a reported £84million release clause means he may stay at Porto for a while longer. Goncalo Ramos was linked with a move to United in the summer of 2023 before signing for Paris Saint-Germain. The 23-year-old has had a so-so spell in France; he's a young, fixed point of a goalscorer who doesn't quite mesh with Luis Enrique's desires for a more fluid, high-pressing attack. Ramos made 22 league appearances in 2024-25, 12 of which were starts. That said, he remains a quality No 9, registering 18 goals in all competitions. Advertisement United may be inclined to test the waters on PSG's Plan B striker. Perhaps a season-long loan deal could work? Thierno Barry scored 11 goals and laid on four assists for a fast-moving Villarreal team last season. The 22-year-old has already been linked to Everton this summer, but he has the athletic application that should interest Amorim. Barry is big (6ft 4in) and has no issues dominating a centre-back — either in the air or on the ground. He's frighteningly good when chasing down loose balls and running the channels, and while he normally plays in a 4-4-2, he has plenty of promise as a lone forward. He is about as direct as it comes for a centre-forward — always looking to get in behind, strong in the air and a nuisance for defenders with his unique mix of height, pace, power and instinct. Moise Kean has had a storied career for a 25-year-old. As a teenager, Keane nutmegged Giorgio Chiellini during a first-team training session at Juventus to show he feared no defender; a subsequent spell at Everton, however, was best forgotten. Now a young man, he's just had his most successful season in front of goal yet, netting 25 goals in 44 matches for Fiorentina. Kean is thought to have a £43million buyout clause in the contract he signed last summer. A fiery striker who works best in a settled environment, trading Italy for another go in England may be a risk. But Kean has never been afraid of a challenge. None of these suggestions comes risk-free. 'If you don't do extra things and you expect that you have just done your job, you're done,' explained former United striker Louis Saha earlier this year. 'It just doesn't work with Manchester United. You have to do the extra.' To be a striker at United is to take on one of the most heavily scrutinised jobs in world football. Every off-target shot, every misplaced pass, every heavy touch, they all invite criticism and ridicule. A striker can look good on paper and in a data printout, but shrink in the Old Trafford glare. But find the right person willing to commit themselves entirely to the cause, and you will likely forge a new cult hero. Additional reporting: Thom Harris (Top photos: Victor Osimhen (left) and Jonathan David; Getty Images)
