Manchester City were rightfully obsessed with signing a midfield sensation this summer

Manchester City were rightfully obsessed with signing a midfield sensation this summer Manchester City won the race to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille this summer. The Moroccan midfield sensation was one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market after his impressive performances with Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It has now been revealed that City had their eyes on signing Ayyoub Bouaddi for well over a year. Also, Manchester City were obsessed with signing Bouaddi. City’s obsession looks to be justified based on how good Bouaddi has looked in the handful of appearances he has made for Enzo Maresca’s side. Hugo Viana has revealed how obsessed Manchester City were about signing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. Today, Manchester City released a lengthy interview with their Director of Football, Hugo Viana. Viana spoke about all of Manchester City’s summer signings and the business that City completed during the summer. One topic that Viana went into detail about was Manchester City’s signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. Hugo Viana revealed that City were obsessed with signing Bouaddi. It was also revealed that City have high hopes for the Moroccan international. Speaking on the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi, Hugo Viana said: “ Since the beginning [we were obsessed]. We’ve followed him for the last year and had a conversation with the President of Lille before the World Cup. It’s a position we thought we could have to be very decisive during this transfer window and Bouaddi was always the target. ” “ We had a positive conversation with the President of Lille and had the opportunity to speak to him. When you speak with him, you have more desire to bring that mentality to our building. We were really happy to reach an agreement with Lille. We spoke with them before, but he had a really good World Cup. ” “ We had very good information on him as a person. It wasn’t easy, but he showed he really wants to be here. It’s a very high ceiling for him. We all believe he can be a really important player for ManchesterCity. If we had to bring a No.6, it will be him because of his calmness and very good with the ball. ” Everything about Ayyoub Bouaddi screams that he is a long-term player for City. Ayyoub Bouaddi has already impressed in his three appearances for Manchester City. Bouaddi’s display in his first start for City in Enzo Maresca’s 2-0 win over FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão in their opening UEFA Champions League league phase fixture was sublime. For an eighteen-year-old midfielder to play so well in such a difficult role in a hostile venue speaks volumes about Bouaddi’s talent and temperament. It was the performance that illustrated that Bouaddi will be a fine player for Manchester City for some time. Ayyoub Bouaddi will play a pivotal role for Enzo Maresca’s side this season. He is far too talented and poised not to. Alongside Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez, Bouaddi is an important component of the new-look City midfield. Looking further ahead, Bouaddi looms as a long-term player for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. He is young with his best years as a player well ahead of him. The scope for improvement in him is massive. City wouldn’t have gone all out to sign him from Lille if they didn’t view Bouaddi as the the future heartbeat of their midfield. Hugo Viana has explained that Manchester City were obsessed with signing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. That obsession was fulfilled and now City have a player that figures to become a crucial player for Enzo Maresca’s side. No signing is a sure thing, however Ayyoub Bouaddi has every attribute required to fully justify City’s determination to sign him.