RAYAN CHERKI has never been afraid of giving two fingers – and sometimes even more – to his haters on and off the pitch.
Manchester City's new £34m midfielder is a maverick with a history of making headlines with his football and his attitude.
On the surface, City's deal to sign the Lyon talent looks like a coup for one of the brightest young sparks in European football.
But Pep Guardiola will be faced with the challenge of moulding Cherki's attitude as well as his game, with the Frenchman's reputation preceding him.
Back in April, having scored in extra-time to give Lyon a second leg aggregate lead against Manchester United in the Europa League quarter finals, the Old Trafford fans gave the young Frenchman a right earful.
The 21-year-old responded first by shaking his fist and then by grabbing his crotch with the wry smile of someone who embraces being the pantomime villain – no matter how crude.
It's that bold confidence that is one of Cherki's biggest strengths, making him ready to take the Premier League by storm, but others have suggested it is a weakness of the rising star.
It's the first time Cherki has been involved in controversy either.
PAST ISSUES
The Lyon academy graduate caused a stir when he demanded he was sent back to the youth team to protest being benched for a first team fixture.
His strop, which even left his father questioning his behaviour, was another example of behaviour that has left managers questioning his mindset in the past.
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Lyon bosses of old have repeatedly voiced concern over Cherki's attitude.
Rudi Garcia, who was the first Lyon manager to give Cherki a shot in the first-team, previously warned: "We all tell him that he'll have the career he deserves, provided that he keeps working.
"The danger is making him believe he is already one of the world's best players."
Peter Bosz didn't hold back in his assessment of Cherki when he was playing him less than most fans would have liked after replacing Garcia.
He said: "I choose my players to win. If I think I can win with Rayan, he'll play. It not, it will be someone else".
While Fabio Grosso, Lyon boss in 2023, bluntly called out Cherki during his time in France.
He slammed: "He's not an exceptional player. He has enormous technical talent but needs to work on the rest."
Cherki has always been highly rated in his home country of France, and he finally announced himself on the National team scene with a stunning debut volley during France’s 5-4 Nations League semi-final loss to Spain last week.
A LONG-STANDING REPUTATION
At club level, his talent has always been known.
Described as one of Lyon’s most talented ever academy products, at the age of 16 years and 102 days he made his senior debut in the Champions League in November 2019.
Two months later, he scored two and assisted two in a 4-3 Coupe de France win over Nantes.
Not even Kylian Mbappe had announced himself so emphatically, and Cherki did so while still a schoolboy.
Such inexperience but also such flare, individuality and showmanship. He had outgrown the youth system, playing with the U17s aged 14, and described it as being “too easy” for him.
Lyon’s former academy director Jean-Francois Vulliez said: “Every day, every training session, he would be dribbling past opponents and wanting to score. It was just in his DNA.
“We still do not know if his best foot is his right or left. At seven, eight, nine, it was the same. He could always play with both.”
Physically, he was ready for the biggest of stages, but psychologically, he was not, struggling mentally to comprehend the spotlight he was now constantly in.
His mentality was questioned, as was his physique, with cruel trolls mocking his stockier build, likened to a young, raw Wayne Rooney. As a result, his form became patchy.
Vulliez added: “Everything happened so fast and at the age of 16 he did not know what professional football was. He was a kid.
“There were a lot of people who were trying to smash him, but the fans did not understand when he lost the ball many times during games.
“He was always respectful but he could be emotional. He did not understand when he had to go to the bench.”
FINDING HIS FEET
This season has been the year that Cherki's reputation has reached the rest of Europe - registering 32 goal contributions in 44 appearances for Lyon across all competitions.
That's sparked a move to Guardiola's Man City, a switch to play under a hard-hitting boss with a reputation of getting the best out of his players.
And if Cherki's glowing reviews about his ability are anything to go by, City have secured the services of a gem in their pursuit to replace Kevin de Bruyne.
Thierry Henry, Cherki’s former France U21 coach and Olympic manager, claimed he had never seen a player dribble at such speeds with both feet.
He told L'Equipe: " For me, we're talking about a guy who should have been battling with the others, at the very top, for a long time to see who is the best.
"He fell behind because it took him a while to understand... But now, he's understood.”
Lyon team-mate Alex Lacazette has suggested that the negative noise around Cherki was wide of the mark and his ability is the only thing that matters.
He said: "I wondered what was going on because I saw his talent and I heard a lot of things I didn't understand.
"He's just a player who needs help, to be told what he should do most and perhaps do a little less".
Speaking this week about his perceived flaws, Cherki said: “People don’t know me very well, otherwise I’d be criticised less.
"When people really get to know me, more than a few are surprised.”
Man City and Guardiola know what they are getting with Cherki: a maverick, an entertainer, a creator – but one that has finally found his place, and is finally accepted for who he really is.