Olivier Létang says Ayyoub Bouaddi could stay at Lille another season | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Olivier Létang believes Ayyoub Bouaddi could remain at Lille for another season despite strong interest from Arsenal and Manchester City. He also played down talk of a €100m price to start negotiations.

The Lille president said he had met Bouaddi after the World Cup and that everything remains possible, but his view is the midfielder should stay put for one more year. He added he sees a strong chance the 18-year-old stays and that the player would be happy to do so.

Bouaddi is a product of Lille's academy, joining at 13 from AFC Creil. He first caught wider attention in the Champions League on his 17th birthday against Real Madrid.

The midfielder chose Morocco over France before the tournament and shone for the Atlas Lions. He was named player of the match in a 1-1 draw with Brazil on 14 June.

Bouaddi signed a new deal until 2029 in December and has made 96 senior appearances for Lille. The club's qualification for the Champions League is seen as a key reason to stay.

Létang said he refused to hold talks during the World Cup with clubs able to pay a fee and that there is no rush, with a review planned in the coming weeks. Asked about a buy-and-loan-back scenario, he said there have been no discussions and that Lille must be ready for every eventuality, including a departure.

Source: L'Équipe