Charlton striker Leaburn: I trained with Cherki at Chelsea - he was better than every player there!

Leaburn, the son of Addicks legend Carl Leaburn, was with Chelsea's academy at the time when a 12 year-old Cherki turned for trials.

Cherki was enrolled with Lyon's academy and actually took the trip to London without their knowledge.

Leaburn told The Sun: “He came over from France and was rainbow flicking guys in training.

“He was miles better than anyone else — absolute quality. That was one of the standout moments of the eight years or so I spent at Chelsea.”

“I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is incredible.’ He honestly rejected playing for Chelsea because he probably found it too easy!"