“I don’t know why some people don’t like me”: Rayan Cherki’s moving speech

“A profile that is debated and will always be debated.” It is in these terms that Kylian Mbappé described Rayan Cherki at the microphone of The Team This morning. Scrutinized and criticized since a young age, the French international sometimes finds himself involved in unfounded “controversies”, like last week after the match against Ivory Coast. “We will not go to the World Cup as favorites, we will go to crush everyone”he said without taking any gloves off.

A seemingly innocuous statement, intended above all to display the ambitions of the Blues, but which had caused some commotion. Frank, quiet and cheerleader, the Manchester City player spoke with an open heart in a video posted by the French Football Federation on its social networks this Saturday. “To be honest with you, today I don’t know why some people don’t like me. Maybe because I have a big beard, maybe I’m too dark, he explains. I can understand that I have a disturbing profile but today it no longer affects me because since I was 15, I have been in the spotlight, and since I was 15, we have invented a lot of things, a lot of stories.»

His wish: to be an example for the new generation

A well-wired and well-rounded boy, Cherki believes he was able to get back up after certain mistakes along the way. Today, he wants to establish himself as an example for the new generation. “Actually, I want to do this for the younger people who will come behind. Every human being is different. Every human being has their journey. This is what should unite us all. When I see the French team, it is magnificent, with diversity and many different stories. This is what makes France strong today.”

His wish? Bring together and unite during this World Cup, which he hopes will bring unity throughout the country. In this video, the attacking midfielder discusses societal issues: “I hope through this experience to be able to bring people together because I myself have not had an extremely easy life. Being world champion is the Holy Grail. But there is the fact of coming at the bottom and finishing at the top. I will fight for my neighbor, I hope my neighbor will fight for me. France is those who come from below, from above, from the left, from the right, regardless of their skin color or ethnicity.” An authentic and deeply touching character.