Cherki Under Zidane: World Cup Attitude Jeopardizes France Future

Rayan Cherki may have impressed coming off the bench against Bournemouth in the Premier League, with two assists to show for it, but his future with the France team under Zinédine Zidane remains uncertain. The new France manager, who will oversee his first match on September 25 against Turkey in the Ligue des Nations, inherits an attacking sector as crowded as Didier Deschamps’ was during the 2026 World Cup, with Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola in direct competition.

The Manchester City attacking midfielder is not a starter at the start of this club season, and the North American summer has left its mark. According to consultant Pierre Ménès, Cherki “squandered his World Cup through a lack of humility and personal commitment”. The analyst points notably to frustration poorly managed after a very strong first half against Côte d’Ivoire in a warm-up match, which apparently fueled the player’s conviction that a starting spot was guaranteed — and, in turn, a form of resentment.

“We remember his clash with Deschamps at the half-time break during France-England. The attitude wasn’t good,” Ménès recalls. While the former Lyon player’s appearance against Bournemouth sparked enthusiasm from the English press, the consultant tempers expectations: “I’m afraid that in the minds of Maresca and then Zidane, Cherki is seen as a late-game game-changer. It’s up to him to prove everyone wrong and especially to show more mature behavior when he gets the chance to start.”

It is precisely on this point that Zinédine Zidane, known for his demanding approach to squad management, will be put to the test. Cherki, 21, has the talent to establish himself; the question is now more mental than technical.