Ayoub Bouaddi shines in Manchester City Champions League debut

Manchester City midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi has drawn significant attention following his first Champions League start in a 2-0 victory against FC Porto. The 18-year-old, who joined from Lille for a reported fee between £85 million and €100 million, delivered a composed performance, completing 54 of 55 passes with a 98.2% accuracy rate.

Teammate Erling Haaland praised the young Moroccan, calling him a ‘gem’ and noting his impressive training sessions. Manager Enzo Maresca also commended Bouaddi’s maturity and calm demeanor on the pitch. The signing is seen as a key part of City’s midfield restructuring following the departure of Rodri.

Despite the acclaim, some analysts have questioned the high transfer cost for a player who may face competition for minutes from other high-profile signings like Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson. However, former player Pat Nevin described the acquisition as an ‘absolute no-brainer’ due to the player's evident technical quality.