Former France and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna, has backed Rayan Cherki to become a future Ballon d’Or winner, describing the Manchester City playmaker as a rare talent capable of entertaining fans and unlocking defences with natural creativity.
Speaking via Oddschecker, Sagna praised Cherki’s flair, technique and freedom on the ball, saying the French midfielder possesses qualities not commonly seen among modern academy graduates.
Sagna said: “Cherki is special. “You can tell by the way he plays he is a showman. “He’s entertaining the whole crowd! “He is the type of player you go to the stadium to watch, to be able to witness this level of talent.”
The former defender described Cherki as a naturally gifted footballer who plays with confidence and enjoyment. He said: “He’s just a joy to watch. “He’s creative, very natural, and I like that he’s always playing with a smile. “He’s the type of technical player that can unlock situations, which not many players are able to do.”
Sagna also compared Cherki’s style to Brazilian street footballers, saying his dribbling ability and touch reflect raw football talent developed outside structured systems.
He said: “You can see he’s from the street by the way he plays. “He reminds me of the Brazilian players with the ability to dribble, play and have a good touch. “I’m a lover of street football players because it’s pure natural skill.”
The former Manchester City defender added that Cherki has the potential to reach the very top of world football because of both his talent and age. Sagna said: “I think he can definitely win the Ballon D’or in the future and he’s still got time on his side as he’s still very young.”
Cherki has continued to attract attention for his technical ability and attacking creativity following his rise from Lyon’s academy into top-level European football.
