Juni Calafat tracking Bouaddi as Giroud says he ‘will play for Real Madrid next year’ | OneFootball

Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, has been one of the breakout performers at the start of the World Cup, orchestrating Morocco’s draw with Brazil and taking player of the match. His rise has attracted elite clubs, including Real Madrid, and recruitment chief Juni Calafat has been tracking him for months.

The Lille midfielder made 42 appearances in all competitions this season and has shared a dressing room with Olivier Giroud. “He will play for Real Madrid next year,” said France’s second-highest scorer, speaking to the BBC.

“I have been impressed by his maturity, and by that of his entourage. He is calm and self-assured, authentic rather than pretending. It is a gift to have him in the team and Morocco will be happy with him because he is good.”

“Friends tell me he is a mix of Patrick Vieira and Sergio Busquets. He is not yet as technical as Busquets but has some of his qualities, and compared to Vieira he has less power, but he will grow and become stronger.” Giroud has renewed with the French club for one year.

“It will be difficult to keep him at Lille. He costs 60 or 70 million euros. He is a very complete, versatile player, everywhere on the pitch, he reminds me of Kanté. The one thing he must improve is finishing, being more aggressive in front of goal.”

Born and developed in France, Bouaddi chose to represent Morocco after featuring for French youth teams.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo