He dominated against Brazil’s midfield
Arsenal have reportedly opened talks over a sensational move for Morocco wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi following his stunning performance against Brazil at the World Cup.
The 18-year-old midfielder announced himself on the biggest stage on Saturday night as Morocco held Brazil to a 1-1 draw in their Group C opener.
While Vinicius Jr grabbed the headlines with Brazil’s equaliser, it was Bouaddi who caught the eye of scouts and supporters alike after producing a midfield masterclass against one of the tournament favourites. Reports emerging on Sunday claim Arsenal have already begun discussions over a potential summer move for the Lille starlet.
According to reports, Mikel Arteta has identified Bouaddi as one of his priority midfield targets as Arsenal look to build on their Premier League title-winning campaign. Lille are believed to value the teenager at around £60million, although the French club are under no immediate pressure to sell.
Bouaddi’s stock has skyrocketed over the past 12 months, but his display against Brazil may have taken his reputation to an entirely new level.
The teenager completed 93 per cent of his passes, recorded more touches than any other Morocco player and won the most duels on the pitch as he helped frustrate Carlo Ancelotti’s side for long periods.
Having already established himself as a regular for Lille, Bouaddi has made nearly 100 senior appearances despite only turning 18 earlier this year. The midfielder also impressed in the Champions League, including a standout display against Real Madrid that further alerted Europe’s elite clubs.
Arsenal are not alone in their pursuit.
Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been credited with an interest in the Morocco international, setting up what could become one of the biggest transfer battles of the summer.
The Gunners have reportedly been monitoring Bouaddi for several months and believe the Emirates would be the ideal environment for his development. Arteta is understood to be keen on adding another dynamic midfielder to a group already containing Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Arsenal fans certainly appear convinced.
Social media was flooded with calls for the club to move quickly after Bouaddi’s performance against Brazil, with many supporters describing the teenager as a future superstar and urging the club to “go all out” to secure his signature.
With Morocco still to face Scotland and Haiti in Group C, Bouaddi has further opportunities to enhance his growing reputation before the transfer window reaches its peak.
But after dominating against Brazil on his World Cup debut, Europe’s biggest clubs may already have seen enough.
