Man City may have finally found their next Riyad Mahrez after Real Madrid win

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• Rayan Cherki

Savinho took Riyad Mahrez's shirt number last season but there is a new player showing the traits that made Pep Guardiola love the Algerian

Rayan Cherki arrived as an unusual option for Manchester City in the summer. He came in the aftermath of fans being furious at the reality that Florian Wirtz would not be arriving as Kevin De Bruyne's replacement. Keyboards were battered questioning the club's ambition, although the signing of a cut-price Cherki earned a temporary halt out of curiosity.

Cherki had the numbers that suggested he could rival De Bruyne for creativity if given the opportunity, but there were also warnings that he would have to work hard and run hard to get those chances. Having just turned 22 in August, not too much pressure or expectation was put on a flair player in a squad where it usually takes a season to settle with Pep Guardiola.

Savinho has certainly found that despite a year as one of the best players in Spain. He took Riyad Mahrez's old shirt number in 2024 and was seen as a potential successor to the Algerian who left a terrific legacy in the Premier League, but is still struggling to make an impact.

Cherki probably rivals Phil Foden as the player with the touch closest to Mahrez's perfection, and in the last week he has shown the warrior mentality that made the winger so loved by Guardiola. Whether it was asking to play despite difficult personal circumstances or having the ice in his veins needed for the big occasion, Mahrez was a lock for so many big games because Guardiola knew he would be guaranteed an excellent performance.

There were no such certainties last week at Fulham when the manager turned to Cherki to see out the final minutes of a crazy game that City were threatening to throw away. The Frenchman got his foot on the ball and played his way into a start against Sunderland.

Whether Guardiola liked the rabona or not, in the second half as City were put under pressure by a Sunderland team hoping to repeat what Fulham and Leeds before them had done, it was Cherki who stepped up as the player determined to make the game safe. He duly did with that sumptuous assist for Foden.

Keeping his place for the giant stage of the Bernabeu, Cherki began the half nutmegging Toni Rudiger and ended it by looping the ball over Alvaro Carreras - to the astonishment of both Real players. It is one thing coming to the Spanish capital and being up for the challenge, but rarely do the home players see such audacity from their opponents.

That summed up City's brave approach though, having the confidence to take the game to Real. And while Cherki's tricks helped that feeling in a stadium where you can easily be swallowed up, he also had the accuracy to deliver a pinpoint corner for the equalising goal and test Thibault Courtois on a number of other occasions.

This was Cherki's best performance in a big game, showing that he has the Mahrez-like mentality and touch to be a real asset for City. A 2-1 win was enough to reintroduce City to the list of Champions League contenders this season, and they look more dangerous with the fearless Cherki in the team.

Given he was replaced with 20 minutes to go along with Foden and Erling Haaland, Guardiola appears to have the same conclusion for the Premier League with a tough trip to Palace on Sunday.