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Morocco's teenage star Ayyoub Bouaddi has reportedly caught the attention of Real Madrid, as the Spanish giants look to add a box-to-box midfielder to their squad this summer.
Bouaddi appears poised to become one of the most sought-after players of the summer transfer window, off the back of a standout season with Lille and eye-catching performances for his country.
The France-born 18-year-old, who featured in 30 Ligue 1 matches in 2025–26, impressed for Morocco in their World Cup group stage clash against Brazil and looks set to play a key role for the Atlas Lions this summer, despite only earning his first international cap earlier this year.
His composure in possession and tireless work ethic have attracted interest from several elite clubs, including Real Madrid and Arsenal.
Olivier Giroud Highlights Bouaddi's Standout Qualities
His Lille clubmate Olivier Giroud believes Bouaddi's ability could see him land at Real Madrid, even drawing comparisons to some legendary figures in the game.
Speaking as a pundit on BBC Sport following Morocco's 1–1 stalemate with Brazil, Giroud said: "It's a gift to have him in the team and I think Morocco is very pleased to have him.
"I was talking with friends that sent me pictures of Patrick Vieira and Sergio Busquets. They said he's a mix of both. He's not as good yet as Busquets, but he's got some skills. Vieira, may be [he has] a lack of, power compared to Patrick. He will get stronger and bigger.
"[He will cost] over €60–70 million. I think it's going to be tough to keep him at Lille. He's a complete player. He's all over the place like N'Golo [Kanté]. The only thing he has to improve, and he knows that because we've been teasing him a lot about that is finishing.
"If he's got it, he will play in Real Madrid next year."
How Bouaddi Ranks Among Ligue 1 Under-25 Midfielders (2025–26)*
Statistic | Rank |
|---|---|
Passes | 10th |
Tackles | 10th |
Interceptions | 9th |
Passes Blocked | 2nd |
Fouls | 1st |
*statistics from WhoScored
Real Madrid in the Market for a New Midfielder
Few clubs exploit the World Cup as a scouting opportunity quite like Real Madrid, and AS reports that Bouaddi is indeed on their watchlist as they continue to plan for a significant summer overhaul.
The report indicates that Madrid's head scout Juni Calafat "issued very positive reports" on the young midfielder earlier this year, confirming he is firmly on the club's radar.
A deep-lying midfielder is understood to be among Madrid's top priorities this summer, with the club still searching for long-term successors to Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić.
AS specifically notes that new boss José Mourinho prefers "a physically imposing player who also possesses the necessary passing ability to orchestrate the team's play." Chelsea's Enzo Fernández and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes are also being monitored.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
At just 18, it seems unlikely that Real Madrid would build their midfield around Bouaddi straight away, and a more experienced signing may take precedence this summer. That said, there remains a possibility he could be brought in alongside a senior target, should the finances align.
Beyond Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been touted as potential destinations for Bouaddi in recent days. Expect the buzz around him to intensify should Morocco continue to impress at the World Cup.