Manchester United tried to sign Rayan Cherki from Lyon, claims club president
As reported by the Daily Star, Olympique Lyon president Jean-Michael Aulas has confirmed that Manchester United were interested in teenage sensation Rayan Cherki before he signed a pro-contract with the club.
Cherki, at just 16, is making quite the wave in French football. A graduate of the Lyon youth academy, the teenage attacking midfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough at the senior level in 2019/20 campaign.
Cherki made 12 first-team appearances this term, contributing with three goals and two assists in the process. In addition, he has also played four times for the club’s U19 side in the UEFA Youth League, bagging five goals and an assist in the process.
This kind of potential had led to Manchester United eyeing a move for him, before Lyon agreed terms on his first professional contract last year, according to Aulas. (Telefoot h/t Daily Star)
“He is undoubtedly a player who will go to the very top. That is why we have made the effort to sign him. The two clubs interested when we took the decision were Real Madrid and Manchester United.”
Ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the reins at the club, we have moved towards a youth-centric recruitment policy. There has been a focus on strengthening the academy ranks, as was seen by the signing of Hannibal Mejbri from AS Monaco last summer.
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So, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the club were eyeing another prodigious young talent from France in the form of Cherki. An attacking midfielder by trade, the 16-year-old can play on either flank and has shown a keen eye for goal in his burgeoning career.
Lyon, acting fast, tied him down to a contract till 2022. We may have been unable to land the youngster last year. But let’s not rule out a move for him in the future if he continues to perform as he is doing right now.
