Rayan Cherki, what were you thinking?! Man City star made to apologise for wearing Liverpool jersey on the bench after swapping with Hugo Ekitike

Cherki risked the wrath of his own supporters by swapping shirts with Liverpool striker Ekitike before the full-time whistle in Saturday’s FA Cup clash - and then remarkably wearing it on the bench. The incident occurred during the high-stakes encounter at the Etihad Stadium that saw City dominate their rivals on the pitch, winning 4-0 to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Cherki and Ekitike, who are team-mates with the France national team, were both substituted within minutes of each other during the second half. Seemingly oblivious to the optics of the situation, they took the opportunity to swap shirts with 20 minutes still to play and the game still in progress. The act of swapping jerseys before the match has concluded is often frowned upon, but Cherki took things a step further.

TV cameras soon spotted a bizarre sight: Cherki reaching for Ekitike’s Liverpool shirt and actually putting it on while sitting among his Manchester City team-mates. The forward appeared comfortable in the red jersey until he heard a voice from off-camera, likely a staff member or a shocked colleague. Upon realising the mistake, he quickly removed the shirt and held up his hand in a clear gesture of apology to those around him.

While Cherki scrambled to cover up his blunder, the cameras panned over to the Liverpool dugout. There, Ekitike was seen sitting motionless, wearing a neutral black training top, having already stowed away Cherki’s City shirt.

The incident did not go unnoticed by the commentary team, who were quick to point out how City fans might react to seeing one of their own wearing the colours of a direct rival. TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher noted the gravity of the situation during the broadcast, suggesting: "That’s going to go down like a lead balloon in many quarters."

It remains to be seen if there will be any formal fallout from the club's hierarchy, but the optics were certainly poor during a remarkable game that was otherwise a celebration for the home side. Despite the sideline drama, City secured their spot in the FA Cup semi-finals with a ruthless performance that left the visitors with no answers.

Liverpool were blown away 4-0 courtesy of Erling Haaland’s hat-trick and a goal by Antoine Semenyo, which was assisted by Cherki himself. Even Mohamed Salah couldn't find a way back for the Reds, seeing his penalty saved by James Trafford. However, Cherki’s shirt swap is just the latest in a line of moments where the Frenchman has drawn attention for his eccentric behaviour.

Cherki also attracted headlines before the international break during City’s 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. During that match, he showboated by juggling the ball mid-game and then winked at the crowd while on the floor after being fouled by Ben White. While his talent is undeniable, his penchant for the theatrical continues to keep him in the spotlight for reasons beyond his technical ability.