Rayan Cherki don dey wait for this moment since long time. Now e don ready to play im first World Cup with France. Although e no go start as first eleven, e get all the power to shake match when e come enter field.
This role as joker of luxury, maybe for some time before e no go accept am. But for last two seasons, Cherki show say e don change for better. Both for im game, how e understand match, and for im behavior.
E no be last person to make joke, the number 24 French player still dey cause talk. Some people no really like am, and e no understand why. ‘To be frank, today I no know why some people no like me. Maybe because I get big beard, maybe because I too black,’ e talk inside video wey FFF publish.
‘I fit understand say my profile dey disturb, but today e no touch me again because since I be 15 years, I dey under spotlight, and since I be 15 years, people dey invent many things, many stories.’
Cherki raise matter wey divide French society – racism. E talk about ‘a magnificent France team, with mix of different stories. That na wetin make France strong today.’
Now e show say e don mature pass before. The former Lyon player no mince word. ‘I hope through this experience I fit bring people together because myself, I no get easy life. I go fight for my neighbor, I hope my neighbor go fight for me. France na those wey come from below, from above, from left, from right, no matter their skin color or ethnicity.’
Cherki don also make headlines for other tins. For recent visit to Clairefontaine with President Emmanuel Macron, e stand for funny pose – knees bent, arms tight to body. E tell TF1 say na ‘matter of respect’ for Sports Minister Marina Ferrari. Many internet users laugh.
E get unique story of how e join football. For interview on Lyon channel, e say e get scouted for parking lot. ‘I come out, I dey juggle ball while running. Gerard Baticle see me and say with wetin I just do, I get 95% chance to enter OL. Next Wednesday, I go for detection, and that’s it.’
For June 2025, e leave Lyon join Manchester City. Same month, e join France national team. E score against Ivory Coast for pre-World Cup friendly wey dem lose on June 4.
Cherki fit also boast say e take selfie with Prince William, heir to English throne. For May 16, Prince watch FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea. After City win, Cherki pull out phone and snap selfie with Prince Charles III first son. That photo also cause talk.
