Rayan Cherki, Manchester City's newest acquisition, has wasted no time in making his intentions clear: he's out for revenge against Manchester United. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who recently completed a £34 million move from Lyon to the Etihad Stadium, still harbors resentment over Lyon's painful Europa League exit at the hands of the Red Devils last season.

In April, Cherki experienced firsthand the heartbreak of losing to Manchester United. Despite scoring a goal in extra time to bring the aggregate score to 5-4, and then watching Alexandre Lacazette extend the lead to 6-4, Cherki and his Lyon teammates were left stunned as United mounted an improbable comeback, winning 7-6. Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and Harry Maguire all found the net, crushing Lyon's dreams and sending United to the final four.

Now, with his transfer to Manchester City complete, Cherki is eager to settle the score. As quoted by BBC Sport, the French international stated, "I [didn't] like [it] when Manchester United won the game against Lyon because I'm a Lyonnais... Now I am waiting for the game [to] kill them. I'm here to win all the games." His strong words have already endeared him to City fans, who relish any opportunity to get one over on their cross-town rivals.

Cherki's desire for revenge stems not only from the defeat itself but also from the manner in which it occurred. He scored in both legs of the quarter-final tie and, after scoring at Old Trafford, was caught on video grabbing his crotch in front of the home fans. This only adds fuel to his burning desire for payback.

Before Cherki can turn his attention to Manchester United, he will first be competing in the Club World Cup with his new team. Manchester City enters the competition as one of the favorites and will compete in Group G alongside Morocco's Wydad AC, UAE's Al-Ain, and Italy's Juventus.

While Cherki is eager to make an immediate impact, he is also aware that he is not a like-for-like replacement for the departed club legend, Kevin De Bruyne. "I'm not Kevin De Bruyne – he's the legend," Cherki acknowledged. "I'm here to help the team and take it game after game, and I hope I win all the time with the team."

Cherki also revealed his conversations with Pep Guardiola regarding his role in the team. "Pep [Guardiola] told me he loves the No 10 position, but now I am ready to play all positions on the pitch," Cherki explained. "It's not complicated, I just want to play. I spoke with Pep about my position and we spoke about what I enjoy when I'm on the pitch. It's very good for me. Pep told me: 'When you have the ball, you are free,' which is good because it's my first [best] quality to help the team."

Beyond seeking revenge against Manchester United, Cherki has set his sights on achieving great things with Manchester City. Inspired by teammate Rodri's Ballon d'Or win, Cherki aims to win major trophies and even the coveted individual award himself.

The Premier League fixtures, which will reveal when Cherki will get his first chance to face Manchester United, are due out on Wednesday. Until then, Cherki will focus on integrating into the Manchester City squad and preparing for the Club World Cup, all while harboring a burning desire to "kill" Manchester United when the opportunity arises. His arrival marks a significant midfield rebuild for City, also including Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan.