Barcelona join the race to sign 18-year-old World Cup sensation linked with Real Madrid | OneFootball

Barcelona have one of the most stacked midfields in club football, with the likes of Pedri, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal and Marc Casado.

However, the club are working on negotiating a sale for Casado, who has seen his minutes and importance diminish in the last 12 months.

This could open up a spot for a new midfielder in the squad.

Now, according to AS, Barcelona are among the clubs following Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Lille midfielder whose World Cup performances with Morocco have made him one of the most exciting young names in Europe.

Barça are joined by Real Madrid, PSG and several Premier League clubs in the race for the teenage talent, whose value has risen sharply after his breakthrough tournament.

Bouaddi fits the kind of profile the club have been trying to identify early: young, technically gifted, physically ready to grow and capable of developing into a long-term midfield option.

Bouaddi has been the breakout star at the World Cup. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

However, this will not be a simple operation. Once a teenager shines at a World Cup, his market tends to skyrocket.

Lille hold a strong position

Lille are asking for around €80 million, and the French club are not in a hurry to sell.

That is a major problem for Barça. The Catalans like elite young talent, but their financial reality means every big investment has to be studied carefully.

Bouaddi may have enormous potential, but an €80 million price would make this a strategic decision, not a simple opportunity.

Lille also have control because the player renewed until 2029. On top of that, they will play Champions League football in the 2026-27 season, so they can wait and try to raise his value further.

Barcelona know Lille’s reputation too. This is a club that usually sells well and are unlikely to accept any bargain offer for Bouaddi.

A talent worth monitoring but not an ideal move

Bouaddi attracting a lot of interest. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

From a Barça perspective, Bouaddi is an attractive name because he offers a different midfield profile.

The Blaugrana already have technical quality in abundance, but Hansi Flick also values intensity, physical capacity and players who can emerge as duel-winners.

If Bouaddi continues developing, he could become that kind of modern midfielder. Still, interest is not the same as an advanced operation.

Barcelona have other priorities, and unless the price drops or the structure becomes creative, this could be difficult. Both of those sound impossible.

The club should stay in the race, but from far off. Chasing every World Cup sensation is dangerous, especially when it promises to become a bidding war.

Bouaddi is clearly a player to watch. He is young, talented but raw. For now, this is a player and a profile Barcelona are right to be monitoring, but they should not consider a move for him at this price.

La Masia produces enough talented midfielders for Barcelona to depend on, and that would be the ideal route to take.