Zidane praises Cherki as a “real baller”, highlighting the French midfielder’s creativity, passing and intelligent movement

Zinedine Zidane, former France captain and French football legend, praised Rayan Cherki in France on September 28, 2026, describing the Manchester City midfielder as the kind of player he would have loved to play alongside during his own distinguished career.

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The 54-year-old Zidane, who is now France manager, was speaking about Cherki’s qualities after the 23-year-old continued to attract attention with his performances for club and country.

“I would have loved to play with a player like Rayan Cherki when I was a player,” Zidane said, according to comments shared by journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Zidane’s admiration was not limited to Cherki’s work with the ball. The former Real Madrid midfielder specifically highlighted the young Frenchman’s ability to find passing options and contribute when possession is lost.

“He finds such incredible passes, and he even knows how to play without the ball,” Zidane added.

The France manager then offered an emphatic assessment of the midfielder’s talent.

“He’s a baller, a real baller.”

The praise carries particular weight given Zidane’s own reputation as one of football’s most elegant and technically gifted midfielders.

During a celebrated playing career, Zidane became renowned for his close control, vision, passing range and ability to influence major matches.

Cherki has developed a reputation for many of those same creative qualities.

The Lyon academy graduate joined Manchester City in 2025 after establishing himself as one of the most technically gifted young players in French football.

His ability to operate between the lines, create chances and deliver incisive passes has made him an intriguing addition to City’s attacking options.

Zidane’s comments also underline an important aspect of Cherki’s development.

Rather than focusing solely on his flair and creativity, the France manager has drawn attention to the midfielder’s contribution without possession.

For a young attacking player, that aspect of the game can be crucial at international level, where tactical discipline and defensive responsibility are often demanded alongside individual quality.

Cherki’s emergence has also added another creative option to a France squad that has entered a new chapter under Zidane.

The former Real Madrid manager inherited a team packed with established international talent while also overseeing the development of a younger generation hoping to establish themselves at the highest level.

Cherki’s technical ability gives him a distinctive profile within that group. His vision allows him to attempt difficult passes, while his movement can create spaces for teammates and provide another route through organised defences.

Zidane’s assessment is therefore more than a compliment about individual skill. It points to the qualities the France manager values as he builds his side.

For Cherki, being praised so warmly by a player who occupied a similar creative role during one of the most successful periods of French football is a significant endorsement.

Zidane spent the majority of his club career at Juventus and Real Madrid before retiring from playing in 2006.

He won the World Cup with France in 1998, the European Championship in 2000 and the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2002.

Cherki is still at an early stage of his senior career, but Zidane’s comments suggest the midfielder’s ability has already made a strong impression on one of France’s most influential football figures.

As Cherki continues his development at Manchester City and with France, the challenge will be to turn the flashes of creativity that have earned such admiration into sustained performances at the highest level.

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For now, Zidane’s verdict is unmistakably enthusiastic: Cherki is not simply a gifted young midfielder. In the eyes of one of France’s greatest footballers, he is a “real baller”.