‘One of the biggest talents I’ve ever seen’ – Guardiola excited for return of Man City summer signing

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has lauded summer signing Rayan Cherki, calling him one of the best talents he has ever seen.

The Frenchman has been absent with injury but made his return from the bench against Everton on Saturday.

“Rayan is one of the hugest talents that I’ve ever seen in my career,” said Guardiola. “Technically and individually, he is top.

“He’s a guy I like a lot, that he doesn’t feel pressure. He always wants to play with the ball, like a street player, ‘Give me the ball, it doesn’t matter’.

“He’s grumpy when he doesn’t get the ball, ‘Give me the ball, give me the ball.’

“But he has something, you know. The pass for Erling in the last moments or the many things he can do.”

The 22-year-old scored on his Premier League debut on the opening day. However, he has since been sidelined since August after picking up a muscle injury.

His manager continued: “I have the feeling that most of time, not all the time, every time the ball comes to him, the situation is better.

“But not all the time he has to play making exceptional things. He has to play just football.

“The question is how he settles in what we want to do and how he reads every action, what the game and the action needs.

“Started really good in the (Club) World Cup, but after had a few weeks off and step by step. But of course the talent that he has.

“But it’s a short time here, and I think he needs a little bit of time because football is not just that. It’s how you move offensively and defensively with your teammates.”

Asked whether Cherki can play alongside fellow star Phil Foden, Guardiola insisted: “Yeah, everyone can play together.”

“These types of players they are so intuitive, intelligent, they see everything. They’re not stupid.”