Rayan Cherki rejects reports of France dressing-room tensions

Rayan Cherki has publicly rejected claims that his conduct created serious friction inside the France squad, turning an internal disagreement into a matter of open debate. The Manchester City midfielder dismissed the allegations as another invention in a post on X, accusing the article behind them of lacking inspiration.

Cherki had been viewed as a player capable of challenging the established order before the 2026 World Cup. However, his time in the United States was described as a sporting and personal failure after repeated joking, a relaxed approach in training and behaviour seen as too individualistic reportedly irritated members of the squad.

Several senior France players were said to have questioned whether he understood the importance of the tournament and the demands of collective life. Michael Olise was specifically identified as a teammate uncomfortable with Cherki’s antics. The claims have therefore raised doubts about Cherki’s standing within the group, despite his importance as an attacking midfielder.

Zinedine Zidane has continued to select Cherki and used him as a central midfielder, giving him starts against Turkey and Italy. Cherki’s response does not settle the disagreement, but it makes clear that he rejects the version of events presented about his relationship with the France camp.