Should Rayan Cherki choose Algeria instead of waiting for France?

Rayan Cherki is a great reason to look at football. Since its professional beginnings at the age of 16 in 2019, the virtuoso has gone through many events and had to face harsh criticism, especially during past seasons, where its performance was sometimes upset by questionable use under the leadership of its former coaches. The latter had not been able to take full advantage of its potential, which fueled numerous questions about its real place at the highest level. Placed at the heart of the project by Pierre Sage, but above all sublimated by the tactical approach of Paulo Fonseca, he finally deploys all of his natural qualities, above the average this season. The native of Lyon silenced his detractors and demonstrates, in each match, that he is one of the most brilliant European footballers, with an exceptional football. With a sense of devastating imbalance and having natural manager qualities, Cherki has shown that he could harm any opponent and is now able to combine his spectacular game with impressive statistics.

The best Ligue 1 passer and the best Europa League passer, the number 18 of Gones shines in all competitions and continues high aerobatics. However, this remarkable yield was not sufficient in the eyes of Didier Deschamps to be called in the French team during the March Rally. The French coach decided to reward an impressive desired Doué with PSG and trust Matteo Guendouzi and a Warren Zaïre-Emery convalescent in the midfield. Choices that can question and that should especially force Rayan Cherki to seriously think about his future in national selection. Having Italian origins, the one who grew up in Pusignan should not give in to the sirens of the Squadra Azzurra and should, according to our information, are only oriented towards a France-Algeria choice for its international future. So what follow -up will Rayan Cherki give to his career? Should he choose Algeria instead of waiting for the French team?

Rayan Cherki must join Algeria

For many children born in France and from Algerian immigration, the choice does not arise. Algeria is the obvious solution as the Algerian roots are present in the family home. Born from an Italian father and an Algerian mother, Rayan Cherki surely does not have the same perception of things but his Algerian origins count for him. Representing the selection of a nation of which he observed the exploits being younger could be one of his motivations. One of the other major reasons that could push Rayan Cherki to join Algeria is respect. Solicited for years by the FAF, Cherki does not always inherit the same consideration with the FFF. Despite its 22 capes with the French Hopes team and its great performances with the Blueberries, the number 18 of the Gones was often shunned by Thierry Henry last season. Called as a last resort to participate in the Olympic Games, he only played 76 minutes with the French delegation and was the last replacement to enter behind Maghnes Akliouche and Désiré Doué. Even if he did not have the same status he now has, this should nevertheless put the chip in the ear of the player who could undergo the same treatment once he is with the A.

One of the other reasons is that Cherki has no interest in waiting more than that to join a national selection. Arriving on his 22 years next summer, the player trained at OL should not yet be in hopes given his immense talent. And given the facial expression displayed by Didier Deschamps when he was asked why Cherki did not appear in his list, should not inspire confidence in the ambidexter, which seems poorly crossed out to see Clairefontaine until 2026 and the end of DD's mandate. Therefore, why take the risk of waiting 2026 and miss a World Cup that he could play with Algeria? Waiting for the French team would mean waiting for Zinedine Zidane to take the torch of Didier Deschamps. From then on, Cherki would then have more likely to be selected, but nothing indicates that he will have the favors of the Real Madrid legend to become a holder. On the other hand, the Lyon virtuoso is said to be indisputable with Algeria for whom he could be the undisputed leader. Even if Algeria has an interesting talent reservoir (Gouiri, Amoura, Aït-Nouri, Bennacer, Hadj Moussa), a player like Cherki, with his exceptional technical qualities, could be the decisive asset to relaunch the national team.

With this Algeria, Cherki could also become an icon of world football by making great exploits with the Fennecs. The recent exploits of Morocco in the World Cup should be a source of inspiration for all binational players who surely believe that beautiful courses in the international tournament are only reserved for the elite of European nations. Allowing Algeria to return to the World Cup and make a beautiful course from 2026 or in 2030 seems to be largely within the reach of the Fennecs. If he is part of this great adventure, Rayan Cherki would not have great difficulty in being the creative soul of this team and the player who will be adored by all the Algerian people. And while the CAN 2025 will take place at the end of the year, it seems incongruous to see Rayan Cherki, who did not participate in the qualifying phase, take part in the final tournament in Morocco. Nevertheless, if he quickly announces his decision to play for the flocks of Vladimir Petkovic, the Lyonnais could be the weapon that is missing from the latter to go and seek the third coronation of its history in the competition. In addition, the recent example of Riyad Mahrez has proven that it was possible to lead a great career while being Algerian international. There is therefore no concern to have, especially when we see the trajectories of Marmoush, Hakimi, Brahim Díaz, Salah or Lookman.

Rayan Cherki still has to wait for France

However, if he wants maximum visibility and play in the best world competitions with the possibility of going as far as possible, France seems to be the right compromise. Nevertheless, his incredible talent, under the leadership of a coach who knows how to enhance him, can largely allow him to be a technical leader among the Blues for the next ten years. This coach could be Zinedine Zidane. Sensitive to this profile of creative player and with a great Qi Foot, Zizou could make Rayan Cherki his hub for his mandate. Therefore, it could be the jackpot for Rayan Cherki, who would then be directly considered one of the best players in the world in this configuration. The symbol of a French team with Zinedine Zidane and Rayan Cherki could also reconnect with this Black-Blanc-Beur side which had shone France for years and which had completely died in recent years with the tumultuous idyll between Karim Benzema and the Blues. For its sporting development, reaching the French team could thus be the best choice to make. By evolving in a group of stars, he would be constantly pushed to surpass himself, which could help him develop his potential at the highest level.

And while he has grown up all his life in France, succeeding in his native lands surely makes sense to Cherki than doing so in Algeria, the country of his ancestors. Having the possibility of winning directly with one of the best enrollment in the selections, the Rhodanian number 18 could enter the legend of a selection to which it could allow to win a 3rd World Cup in the near future. From a sporting point of view, Cherki also has a real niche to take with the Blues. With his creative profile which is much above average on a lot of areas, he could be the ideal replacement for Antoine Griezmann, who risks leaving a huge vacuum in this sector of play. Joining France would also allow him to put his talent for contribution without necessarily having the need to create the system as would be the case in Algeria. While he would be the natural leader in Algerian training despite the presence of great talents by his side, he could be a brilliant player among others in France. A less navel -looking vision but which could also allow him to glean more titles if he came to join France.

To another extent, time could finally prove his patience to the Blues. While playing in hopes for many years, Cherki has proven that he was able to make great performances with the blue tunic. And succeeding in being brilliant in the youth team is often a good omen to have a good career with team A. In addition, an injury in the next gatherings could propel Rayan Cherki earlier than expected with the Blues. This has already been the case in the past and it had already allowed some players to rise in the Didier Deschamps group. The French coach is also known for his great pragmatism. The former pugnacious midfielder could give in to the complaints of French supporters, who demand more and more dearki in the group of Blues. Very close to Clairefontaine but at the same time, Rayan Cherki clearly has reasons to wait for France. But joining Algeria in the coming months is also an idea which is far from being absurd and which could ultimately be beneficial for the rest of his career. As often, and generally for better, the ball is in Rayan Cherki's feet.