Could Manchester City be poised to enter the race to sign a Moroccan midfield sensation?

Could Manchester City be poised to enter the race to sign a Moroccan midfield sensation? At some point in the near future Manchester City will have to replace Rodri. How City go about that task isn’t immediately clear. Perhaps the best course of action is for them to sign Rodri’s replacement and let them learn from the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder for a period of time about how to play arguably the most complex midfield role in a City side. One player who could potentially serve that apprenticeship is Lille and Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Bouaddi is one of the most highly regarded young midfielders in European football, and it now seems that Manchester City may be about to enter the race to sign one of the most sought-after midfielders in world football. Are Manchester City about to enter the race to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi this summer? As Morocco drew 1-1 with Brazi l in their opening Group C fixture of this summer’s World Cup, 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi turned in a spectacular performance for Morocco in midfield. Playing against the five-time World Cup winners on the biggest stage didn’t phase Bouaddi. He more than held his own against Brazil’s midfield of Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá. Bouaddi has long been regarded as one of the brightest young midfield prospects in European football. On the biggest stage, Bouaddi showed why he wasn’t phased by the occasion. He kept possession superbly with 60/66 passes and he dictated the tempo of a pulsating World Cup match. From there, transfer speculation grew surrounding the Moroccan midfielder. Graeme Bailey reported for TeamTalk that PSG and Arsenal are leading the race to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. Bailey further reported that Lille would demand over £60 million to sell their 18-year-old midfield sensation. Furthermore, it is reported that Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona have all shown interest in signing Bouaddi. To follow up on Graeme Bailey’s report, Matteo Moretto responded to a tweet from Transfermarkt’s Spanish page asking where Bouaddi would play next. Arsenal, PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona were listed as potential destinations. Transfer reporter Moretto responded to their question with Manchester City, which may indicate that City may be in the race to sign Bouaddi. Ayyoub Bouaddi is a special talent and he ticks nearly every box that City requires of a midfielder. Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has long stood out as an elite midfield prospect well before this summer’s World Cup. Any player who begins playing first-team football in Ligue One at 16 is a prodigious talent. Bouaddi is exactly that. The fact that he plays in midfield, and can operate as an out-and-out number six, or alongside one, makes him an even more tantalizing prospect. Ayyoub Bouaddi operates in the heart of Lille and Morocco’s midfield. His major strength is his ability to win duels and possession in midfield. It is rare to see Bouaddi not win a 50/50 ball. He also reads the game exceptionally well and Bouaddi’s ability to make crucial interceptions forms the backbone of his game. Bouaddi isn’t a creative force in possession, nor does he have the capabilities going forward that Rodri possesses. Bouaddi tends to play it safe in possession with his passing. At 18 years of age, Bouaddi has the scope to vastly improve this side of his game. But for now, he is better at maintaining possession and keeping moves ticking along rather than being a creative threat. In terms of his dribbling, Ayyoub Bouaddi is an elegant midfielder with the ball at his feet. He glides around the pitch when in possession. Bouaddi can dribble and pass with both feet, which opens up the game for him. The young midfielder stands at 185 centimetres tall and this allows him to see off challenges. Bouaddi isn’t phased by opponents getting in his face, and he could almost be classed as press-resistant with the ball at his feet. In terms of his tactical awareness, Ayyoub Bouaddi is elite. Especially for an 18-year-old. He reads the game exceptionally well in midfield. In fact, he does this better than the majority of experienced midfielders, which is a huge compliment to his talent. Final thoughts. All told, while Bouaddi can improve in terms of being a bigger attacking threat with his passing, however, he has all of the tools needed to play in the Premier League and at Manchester City. The fact that Bouaddi can operate as a number six or alongside a quality number six is another string to his bow. Ayyoub Bouaddi has all of the necessary attributes to become Manchester City’s long-term Rodri replacement. He is at the right age to do so. It now remains to be seen if City will go hard to win the race to the Lille midfielder. In terms of finding an 18-year-old midfielder who could blossom into one of the world’s best midfielders, Bouaddi is one of one. It would not be a surprise to see Manchester City push hard to try and win the race to sign Bouaddi given his prodigious talent and undoubted potential.