UMVA has learned that Ayyoub Bouaddi, a highly sought-after young midfielder, could be on his way to Real Madrid next year, according to comments made by his Lille teammate, Olivier Giroud.
The 18-year-old sensation has been turning heads with his impressive performances, including a standout display in Morocco's World Cup opener against Brazil, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Bouaddi's maturity and skill on the pitch have left fans and pundits alike in awe.
Giroud, who has taken Bouaddi under his wing at Lille, praised the youngster's calm and confident demeanor, saying, "I've been amazed by his maturity and also his entourage is really good. His head is well done in the sense that he is calm, confident, he's staying himself."
Lille are reportedly resigned to losing Bouaddi and have slapped a £60m price tag on him, with several top clubs, including Real Madrid, rumored to be interested in signing him. Giroud believes that Bouaddi's price tag could rise significantly in the near future, saying, "Over £60-70m, the prices now, I think it's going to be tough to keep him at Lille."
Bouaddi has drawn comparisons to legendary midfielders like Patrick Vieira and Sergio Busquets, but Giroud sees similarities between him and former Chelsea teammate N'Golo Kante, saying, "He's a complete player, he's very versatile, he's all over the place, a bit like N'Golo Kante."
Despite his impressive performances, Bouaddi still has areas to improve, particularly when it comes to his finishing. Giroud jokingly suggested that if Bouaddi can work on his goal-scoring, he could be playing for Real Madrid next year, saying, "If he's got it then after he will play in Real Madrid next year so give him some time."
Bouaddi has made a total of 96 appearances for Lille and is tied into a contract with the Ligue 1 outfit until June 2029. The young midfielder has already made a significant impact in the football world, and it seems likely that his career will continue to soar in the years to come.
