

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.”
(Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
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