‘I can see him at Real Madrid’ – Olivier Giroud backs 18-year-old for Bernabeu move

‘I can see him at Real Madrid’ – Olivier Giroud backs 18-year-old for Bernabeu move With Carlo Ancelotti pulling the strings from the sidelines and Vinicius Junior leading the attack on the pitch, Brazil would understandably the favorite team in World Cup 2026 of a big segment of Real Madrid fans. These fans would have been somewhat disappointed as they saw the Canarinha salvaging only a 1-1 draw from their high-profile opening game against Brahim Diaz’s Morocco. Vinicius Junior scored the only goal for Brazil in that game, while Brahim provided the assist for his side’s goal, scored by Ismael Saibari. Meanwhile, another player who caught the eyes of a lot of spectators in this game was the Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old’s name had already been circulating in the transfer market before this game, but his performance has further increased his demand. Real Madrid, whose preferred priority for a midfield reinforcement appears to be Enzo Fernandez for now, are also keeping their eyes on the Moroccan. Meanwhile, one of his teammates at Lille, Olivier Giroud, currently also working as a commentator for BBC, covering the World Cup, was full of praise for Bouaddi in one of the channel’s broadcasts. As MARCA has reported, the Frenchman believed the young midfielder would end up at Real Madrid within a year. Giroud started by praising the player for his maturity and environment: “I was impressed by his maturity and by his surroundings, which are genuinely healthy. That’s the first thing I would point out. He has a good head on his shoulders in the sense that he is calm and self-confident. Having him on your team is a gift, and Morocco must be very happy to have him.” He also compared the teenager with some of the best defensive midfielders in recent times: “All my friends and several teammates told me about Patrick Vieira and Sergio Busquets, saying that he was a blend of the two. He still has a long way to go before reaching their level, but there are similarities.” Regarding a future transfer, Giroud saw the midfielder at Real Madrid: “His transfer will be worth more than €60 or €70 million. That’s the market price nowadays… It will be difficult for Lille to keep him. The only thing he needs to do is improve his finishing, something we joke with him about a lot in the team. He needs to be more aggressive in front of goal, and if he manages that, I can see him at Real Madrid from next season onward.” With the abilities he is showing on the pitch at only 18 years of age, Olivier Giroud’s comments about Ayyoub Bouaddi would definitely excite Real Madrid fans. But for now, it remains to be seen whether the Merengues would make a move for him this summer, and before that, how the rest of the World Cup goes for the Moroccan international.