Man City eye Morocco star, bid could top half a billion | OneFootball

Midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, just 18 years old, has become one of the most sought-after names on the market after shining for Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Lille player was already being closely tracked by European giants, but his performances in the final stretch of the tournament confirmed his current level and future potential, intensifying the race for his signing.

According to The Athletic, Manchester City have emerged as the main suitor and are pushing hard to secure the Moroccan gem, who could cost more than half a billion reais.

The New York Times’ sports arm reports that while some clubs would be willing to buy him and leave him at Lille for another season to continue his development, City’s intention is to integrate him into the Citizens squad immediately.

The midfield department is an absolute priority for the English side in this transfer window, the first since Pep Guardiola’s departure.

The team have lost Bernardo Silva, have already paid £116 million for Elliot Anderson (from Nottingham Forest), and know that Rodri’s contract expires in June 2027.

The competition from England, however, is fierce. Arsenal and Manchester United are also in the race and have been in contact with Bouaddi’s camp for around 12 months.

Interestingly, although current Paris Saint-Germain football adviser Luis Campos was responsible for bringing the youngster to Lille in 2021, PSG are not considered contenders in this summer window.

Taking the Moroccan gem out of France will not be a cheap task.

Lille have set the asking price at around €100 million (about R$585 million), a figure considered prohibitive for a large share of the player’s admirers.

At the moment, the French club are waiting for Bouaddi to return after the World Cup so they can sit down and discuss all options in person, including the possibility of him staying with the team for a while longer.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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