Transfer Market: “I’ll see where the wind takes me,” Rayan Cherki confirms his departure from Lyon

" Yes, I think it was my last ." At the time of his extension last summer, after a stint at the loft, we knew that Rayan Cherki was not destined to stay long term at Lyon, his training club. His tears as he left the pitch on Saturday, against Angers (2-0) , during the 34th matchday , left little room for doubt. His words dispelled the little suspense that still remained. " Now, I am cautious, I know what I experienced last summer, it was not easy for me, I do not forget what I went through, " said the U21 international, in the mixed zone, taking advantage of the opportunity to settle a few scores in passing.

" I started the season in the loft, even though I never betrayed the club. I gave everything for this badge. It wasn't an easy season. I was spat on a lot internally, there was a lot of bad talk about my entourage, even though the only one who makes the decisions is me. I haven't forgotten where I come from. I'm proud of this season ," he insists.

What was he thinking as he left the pitch? " 14 years of passion, hard work, determination. Where I come from, very few would have recovered. I'm just proud of myself ," he emphasized, having actually joined the Lyon team in 2010. Since then, he has played 185 matches, with 29 goals and 45 assists to his name. The 2024 Olympic champion will leave the Rhône with a Ligue 1 assists trophy under his arm. He indeed provided an 11th assist on Saturday, for another starter, Alexandre Lacazette. Enough to overtake Parisian Bradley Barcola (10), his former teammate at OL.

It remains to be seen where Cherki will play next season. Last summer, he flirted with PSG and Dortmund, among others. " I'll see where the wind takes me, but I'm proud of the team, of what I did at OL ," he said. "Obviously, I haven't forgotten anyone, all those who helped us on a daily basis, the stewards, who were very important to us, Jean-Michel Aulas, who was the precursor of many things, John Textor, despite everything. Thank you all, the coaches I saw at OL. I made so many dreams come true here."

I will come back.

Rayan Cherki

And to conclude: "A word to the supporters? All the young Lyonnais who are coming up and who are arriving, take them under your wing. It's thanks to you that they will want to stay at the club, to make history. Whatever happens, I will come back ." In the meantime, it's time for the big departure.