Noel Gallagher believes City have a player they should build their new-look side around – and it isn’t Erling Haaland or £125m deadline-day signing Enzo Fernandez.
The lifelong City supporter has instead picked out Rayan Cherki, describing the Frenchman as an “absolute diamond” after his excellent start to the season.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Gallagher said of Cherki: “They need to build the team around him.”
It is some praise for the 23-year-old, who underlined his quality with two goals in City’s 4-1 win at Crystal Palace last Friday.
Cherki emerging as a key man
Gallagher clearly loves the unpredictability Cherki brings to Enzo Maresca’s side.
“He’s got that indefinable thing that magicians have,” he said. “He’s gnarly, he says mad stuff, but I mean, he’s an absolute diamond.”
There is certainly plenty of competition for attention at City.
Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye arrived on deadline day, joining an attacking group already containing the likes of Haaland, Phil Foden and Cherki.
But Cherki has started the new campaign particularly well.
He provided two assists against Bournemouth before scoring twice at Selhurst Park, and suddenly Gallagher’s suggestion doesn’t sound quite so outlandish.
Maresca has plenty of expensive pieces to fit together. Cherki, though, is making a very strong case to be one of the first names on his teamsheet.
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