Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Rayan Cherki will be sidelined for two months after sustaining a quadriceps injury.
The French midfielder joined City from Lyon in June for an initial £30.45m and had quickly made an impact in his first appearances for the club.
Cherki marked his debut in style, scoring in the 4-0 victory over Wolves at Molineux. He retained his place for the following match, where City suffered defeat against Tottenham. However, his name was missing from the team sheet during Sunday’s clash with Brighton, where City endured their second consecutive loss in a 2-1 result.
The French Football Federation later confirmed the extent of the problem through a statement on its official X account, explaining that Cherki had sustained a quadriceps tear.
National team changes
Cherki’s injury also has international consequences. He had been called into Didier Deschamps’ France squad for September’s World Cup qualifiers, but his absence has forced a reshuffle.
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has been drafted in to replace the midfielder for the upcoming fixtures, ensuring that France still has depth in its attacking options.
The setback halts Cherki’s opportunity to represent his country in competitive fixtures during the international window, a chance he had been anticipating since making the move from Ligue 1.
Derby disappointment for City
The timing of the injury is a major blow for City, with the first Manchester derby of the season looming on 14 September. Cherki will not recover in time to face Manchester United, denying him the chance to make his mark in one of the league’s most heated rivalries.
For Cherki, the clash carried personal significance. As a Lyon academy graduate, he had been part of the team that lost 5-4 to United in a memorable Europa League tie. Speaking after his transfer to City, the midfielder admitted he had been eager for revenge, stating he was “waiting for the game” to “kill” United after that painful defeat.
His absence now means Guardiola must look for alternative solutions in midfield as City seek to recover from back-to-back defeats and reassert themselves in the title race.
