While all eyes were on Thomas Tuchel’s England 2-0 victory over Albania in his debut game as manager, there was another intriguing match going on.
In fact, a friendly youth match was played between the England Under-21s and France U21s. The home team won 5-3, and the match became an instant classic.
James McAtee, a teenage player for Manchester City, opened the scoring after just two minutes, but Quentin Merlin levelled two minutes later. By the 35th minute, Hugo Etikete had then increased the score to 3-1.
Harvey Elliott quickly equalised, but Etikete would go on to complete his hat-trick before Liam Delap and Rayan Cherki’s goals, along with Omari Hutchinson’s late red card, saw the score finish at 5-3.
Cherki, the 21-year-old Lyon sensation, seems to have been the show’s main attraction. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that he looked so excellent, as European football analyst Alex Barker had already referred to him as a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”
With connections to Liverpool, Cherki dominates the England Under-21 team and has the potential to be a Premier League star.
On that day, Cherki was excellent. France’s Merlin equalised thanks to his accurate assist, and a few minutes later, he lofted a beautiful ball over the top for Etikete to put his team ahead.
Whether it was getting on the ball and threading passes into dangerous areas or popping up closer to the penalty box to shoot himself, he was a constant threat throughout the match. In the 76th minute, he cut inside and fizzed a deflected effort into the England net, finally earning him a goal.
Cherki concluded the game with three crucial passes, two huge opportunities created, his goal, two assists, and an 8.9 match rating—only surpassed by hat-trick hero Etikete—which highlights his impressive performance.
Given everything, it’s no surprise that the 21-year-old has been linked to numerous Premier League teams. With the player entering the last 12 months of his contract in June, Everton has been predicted to make a bid of £20.8 million this summer. The young athlete, who has been called “one of the most skilful players on Earth,” is also being pursued by Manchester United. Tottenham Hotspur is also a contender.
Cherki, who now leads both Ligue 1 (9) and the Europa League (8) in assists and has contributed nine goals in his previous seven French top-flight games, is also a target for Liverpool, according to GIVEMESPORT sources. The Reds would be wise to pursue the left-footer given the possibility of losing Mohamed Salah in the summer, but they must move quickly to win the competition for his services. His ability to play both attack and midfield would make him an ideal addition to Arne Slot’s roster.
Fans Blown Away by Cherki
“Hazard type of talent”
Rayan Cherki vs England U21
3 G/A.pic.twitter.com/xBNiA2Et8Q
— Matolisso (@MatolissoB) March 21, 2025
Fans online were unable to contain their praise after video of his performance against the England U21s surfaced. Someone wrote, “Why on earth is he playing u21 football.”
According to a second, “Hazard type of talent.” Prior to the addition of another:
“France ought to start him in the starting lineup right away. He provides them with Griezmann’s ideal replacement.
According to More, “A talent of this calibre should not go to waste.” “Why in the world is he in the U21?” said another admirer. There is no more entertaining football player than this one.
What happens to Cherki in the upcoming years will be intriguing to watch.
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