Cherki was once right in front of Manchester United's eyes, but...

As Rayan Cherki dazzles in Manchester City's jersey, the tale of Manchester United "nearly signing him" is suddenly brought back to light.

According to talkSPORT, Manchester United was very close to securing Rayan Cherki's signature when the player was still at the U15–U16 level. At that time, the Old Trafford side showed particular interest after Cherki set the record for the youngest goal scorer in UEFA Youth League history, at just 15 years and 33 days old.

Notably, that historic goal came in a defeat against Manchester City's U19 team – the club Cherki later joined. Despite receiving a concrete offer, the French talent declined to move to England, choosing to stay at Lyon to develop his career. That decision from years ago is now viewed as a major turning point, especially as Cherki has just shone in a match that decided the title race.

Early morning on April 20th, Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-1 at Etihad Stadium in the 33rd round of the Premier League. The match, dubbed an "early final," unfolded dramatically as expected, with both teams exchanging blows in a tense battle until the final minutes.

Cherki was the highlight from the start of the match. In the 16th minute, he showcased an exceptional individual move before unleashing a dangerous shot to open the scoring, giving Manchester City the advantage. However, just two minutes later, a mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma allowed Kai Havertz to equalize 1-1 for Arsenal, bringing the match back to a balanced state.

In the second half, the game became a tug-of-war as Manchester City controlled possession better while Arsenal remained dangerous on the counterattack. The decisive moment arrived in the 65th minute, when Erling Haaland coolly finished with a one-touch strike, sealing the 2-1 victory. In the final minutes, Arsenal pressed intensely but could not capitalize on opportunities, most regrettably Havertz's header that missed the post.

This victory allowed Manchester City to reduce the gap with Arsenal to just 3 points, with one match still pending, making the title race incredibly tense. In this context, Cherki's standout performance makes the story of Manchester United "missing out" on him even more regrettable, as they witness a talent once within their grasp now shining brilliantly for a rival club.