Aguero Warns Rayan Cherki May Test Guardiola's Patience

rayan Cherki's free-spirited style will test Pep Guardiola's patience on a regular basis, Sergio Aguero said, even as he argued the midfielder has made Manchester City better. The former striker's view lands after Cherki's strong start at City, where his output has already become part of the title conversation.

"Rayan Cherki needs to be careful with the way he plays but he makes Man City a better team," Aguero said. He added that Cherki "plays in a very free way, without caring about anything," and that some of those choices are "probably" the sort Guardiola does not like.

Aguero on Cherki's edge

Aguero said Guardiola has understood that Cherki's natural instincts are part of what makes him dangerous. He also said the midfielder does not play to show off, but to beat the opponent, and warned that defenders can give him a strong kick if he is not careful.

That push and pull is the point of the story. Cherki brings invention and risk in the same package, and Aguero framed both as part of the same player rather than separate problems. He summed up the balance bluntly: Cherki creates goals or goal-scoring chances, but the margin for error is small.

Cherki's City return

Cherki joined Manchester City from Lyon last summer and has recorded 23 goal contributions in 46 appearances across all competitions. Guardiola has already praised his goal against Arsenal earlier this month, while also demanding more sustained involvement from him across 95 minutes.

He scored against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month and later supplied two assists in City's 3-0 win at Chelsea, a result that helped reignite the club's title charge. Aguero said his son is even asking for Cherki's shirt, and his final judgment was the strongest sign of all: "The truth is he has made City a much better team."