Rayan Cherki once had a secret trial at Chelsea but rejected a move to domestic rivals Manchester City because he found it “too easy”.
EFL star Miles Leaburn, a former Blues academy member, admitted the Frenchman arrived without his then club Lyon “knowing.”
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The striker, who moved from Stamford Bridge to Charlton Athletic in 2019, recalled that Cherki was better than anyone in west London.
Rayan Cherki had a secret Chelsea trial
The 22-year-old came to Cobham as a 12-year-old in 2015 but ultimately stayed with youth club Lyon.
“He came from France and was a real eye-catcher in training,” Leaburn said in an interview with The Sun.
“I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is incredible’. He honestly refused to play for Chelsea because he probably found it too easy!”
“It was miles better than anyone else, absolute quality.”
“That was one of the outstanding moments in the eight years I spent at Chelsea.”
Leaburn was released by Chelsea at 16 but made it as a professional with Charlton, scoring one goal in 24 Championship games that year.
Cherki, meanwhile, made almost 150 appearances for Ligue 1 side Lyon before joining the Etihad for £34m last summer.
The four-time France international made 22 appearances in all competitions under Pep Guardiola in his first half of the season at City.
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Cherki was named the Premier League’s best midfielder
Cherki, who has scored two goals and provided seven assists in 16 Premier League games, will return to Stamford Bridge in April.
Chelsea fan and The Pitch Prospect presenter Rory Jennings has already named Man City’s number 10 the best midfielder in England’s top flight.
He made the claim days before Cherki scored his side’s winning goal and assisted in their 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.
“Rayan Cherki could very well be the best midfielder in the league right now,” Jennings said on Drive. “I think he could be the best in midfield at the moment.
“If you look at the form he shows, if you look at the consistency with which he plays.”
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“It warms me because I always love footballers like that. You know those idiosyncratic footballers from the 1970s who just play and really learn the art of the game.”
Jennings continued: “He’s really passionate about the beauty of the game. He’s not a system footballer at all.”
“And Pep Guardiola seems to get the best out of him.
“His quick feet, brilliant goalscoring ability and wonderful finishing. I think he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league at the moment.”