Could the most recent addition at Manchester City start against Crystal Palace tonight? | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca told the media yesterday that Ayyoub Bouaddi is ready to step straight into the Manchester City squad for tonight’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The Moroccan international was announced as a City player on Wednesday and has quickly got to work with his new teammates. Bouaddi had completed a significant period of preseason training with Lille before signing for Maresca’s side. So he is fit enough to feature in tonight’s match. However, you do wonder if Bouaddi could start tonight against Crystal Palace.

Did Enzo Maresca provide a clue as to how his team will lineup tonight?

Against Bournemouth last Sunday, Enzo Maresca started Marc Guehi in midfield. With City short of midfield options, Maresca turned to Guehi, rather than Mateo Kovacic, to partner Elliot Anderson in midfield. The move paid dividends. Guehi was superb in midfield and he kept the game simple in possession and his ability to win duels and his overall physicality in midfield was an important factor in City’s win. Also, Guehi scored Manchester City’s 84th minute equalizer and he did offer a threat going forward on occasions.

Enzo Maresca was asked yesterday if Marc Guehi would start in midfield against Crystal Palace tonight. The Manchester City didn’t provide a definitive answer on where Marc Guehi would play tonight. He said: “We’ll see, he’s an option. For sure, the good thing about Marc is that in this moment, he gives us another option in the middle in case we need. And for tomorrow, we’ll see. We have a session in a few hours (yesterday) and then we’ll decide the first XI for tomorrow.”

It would seem unlikely that Mateo Kovacic would start tonight. Although that is an option. Enzo Maresca does have another option to start with Elliot Anderson in midfield tonight. That is Ayyoub Bouaddi. But is it a realistic possibility?

Perhaps the safe option is to start Bouaddi on the bench, but maybe throwing him straight into the Premier League is an option.

With Ayyoub Bouaddi having only trained with his new teammates for two days ahead of tonight’s match, the safe option would be to start the Moroccan midfield sensation on the bench. Bouaddi is only 18 and maybe, easing him into life at Manchester City and the Premier League is the way that Enzo Maresca will go tonight.

However, Ayyoub Bouaddi is no ordinary 18-year-old. He has been signed by Manchester City for £85 million and he is one of, if not, the most highly regarded young midfielder in world football. Simply put, Bouaddi is no ordinary footballer. He is an exceptional talent. The Moroccan midfielder has been playing first team football with Lille since he was 16. He dictated the entire flow of a match against Real Madrid for Lille in a UEFA Champions League fixture as a 17-year-old. Ayyoub Bouaddi has shone at the World Cup as an 18-year-old. Starting in Manchester City’s midfield against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park after only being at the club for two days is an occasion he could well be made for.

Ayyoub Bouaddi could be a bonafide contender to start in the Manchester City midfield tonight against Crystal Palace. If Enzo Maresca opts to play Guehi in defence, then Bouaddi could be thrown straight into the deep end tonight. That may suit Bouaddi and the sooner he begins to play with Elliot Anderson and his Manchester City teammates the better. Perhaps, starting Bouaddi tonight is the way to go.