Key keywords: Rayan Cherki, Manchester City, football as art, Premier League, Etihad Stadium, attacking midfielder, fan experience, sports mental wellbeing Fresh off his £45 million summer transfer from Olympique Lyonnais to Manchester City, 21-year-old French attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki has opened up about his core philosophy around the sport, declaring that football should be viewed as a form of art designed to help audiences forget the pressures of daily life. Cherki, who graduated from Lyon’s famed youth academy and registered 12 goals and 8 assists across all competitions for the French side last season, made the comments during his first extensive interview with City’s official media team, days after his impressive debut appearance in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley, where he notched a 72nd-minute assist with a trademark no-look through ball that sent the Etihad Stadium crowd into raptures. “I grew up playing football on the streets of Lyon, where no one cared about possession stats or league positions – we played to make the people watching laugh, to pull off tricks that would make everyone gasp,” Cherki explained. “For me, that’s the core of the sport: it’s just like art. A painter creates a canvas to make people feel something, a musician writes a song to help listeners forget their problems for three minutes, and a footballer should do the same over 90 minutes. If a fan comes to the stadium after a long, hard week of work, leaves after the game smiling and completely forgets about their bills, their work deadlines, or any other weight they’re carrying? That’s my job done, way more than any trophy or individual award.” Cherki’s outlook aligns almost perfectly with the possession-focused, creative style of football implemented by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who has long prioritized expressive, attacking play alongside results. Guardiola praised Cherki’s attitude in a recent press conference, noting that the young Frenchman’s willingness to take risks and try unconventional moves on the pitch is exactly what makes him a perfect fit for the City squad. Cherki also named former Barcelona and Brazil star Ronaldinho as his biggest inspiration, pointing out that the 2002 World Cup winner was beloved across the globe not just for his trophy haul, but for the joy and creativity he brought to every match he played. As he prepares for his first Premier League start in the coming weeks, Cherki says his main goal is to create “iconic, memorable moments” for City fans that will stick with them for years, just like the great works of art that stand the test of time.