Man City XI vs Wydad AC: Cherki debut, confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Club World Cup

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Evening Standard

·17 June 2025

Man City XI vs Wydad AC: Cherki debut, confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Club World Cup

Attacking midfielder joined from Lyon last week and his versatility will give Pep Guardiola a selection headache

Cherki, one of four Man City summer signings, completed a £30m move from Lyon last week and should be raring to go having featured for France in the Nations League finals.

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Capable of operating behind the main striker or from a wide right position, his versatility does hand manager Pep Guardiola a welcome selection headache given the plethora of attacking options the Spaniard has at his disposal.

Meanwhile, Rayan Ait-Nouri is also pushing to make his first Man City appearance after joining from Wolves. As a natural left-back, his inclusion in the side could see Josko Gvardiol continue in his favoured centre-back role alongside Ruben Dias.

With the Premier League giants expected to beat their Moroccan counterparts, it could be the perfect game to hand Rodri a first start since last September. The Spaniard has made a full recovery from an ACL injury and may be paired in midfield with another new recruit, Tijjani Reijnders.

Erling Haaland is expected to lead the line with Omar Marmoush and Phil Foden possibly joining Cherki as the trio who will be tasked with feeding the City number nine with chances as well as providing a goal threat themselves.

City are without the injured Mateo Kovacic whilst Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and James McAtee were not named in the Club World Cup squad.

John Stones has made the trip but he is considered a doubt due to a lack of fitness and match sharpness having not played since limping off against Real Madrid back in February.

Predicted Man City XI: Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Reijnders; Cherki, Marmoush, Foden; Haaland

Injured: Kovacic

Doubts: Stones

Time and date: 5pm BST on Wednesday June 18, 2025

How to watch: 5 and DAZN

Venue: Lincoln Financial Field