Bouaddi shines on debut start as Man City ease past Porto

Manchester City’s recruitment of Ayyoub Bouaddi appears to be paying off immediately after the 18-year-old midfielder delivered a composed performance on his first start for the club. Playing in a 2-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Porto, Bouaddi silenced early doubts regarding his £86m transfer fee from Lille, which made him the most expensive teenager in Premier League history.

While Erling Haaland scored both goals, it was Bouaddi who attracted significant attention in the center of the park. His display suggested that the void left by Rodri may be more fillable than anticipated. Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin praised the young Englishman on BBC Radio 5 Live, stating, “His age, his game – he looks absolutely born to do it… He is a class act.”

Bouaddi, who became the fourth-youngest player to start a Champions League match for City at 18 years and 341 days, demonstrated maturity beyond his years. Manager Enzo Maresca highlighted Bouaddi’s resilience and multilingual abilities, noting, “He speaks French, English, Spanish perfect. He is different in how mature he is. This is why the club has made the effort for him to be with us.”

Statistically, the teenager was near-unerring, completing 54 of his 55 passes. He also led all players on the pitch in key attacking and defensive metrics, including dribbles, possession wins, and duels contested. These figures echo his previous success at Lille, where he earned a standing ovation from home fans for his role in their famous defeat of Real Madrid.

Haaland did not hold back in his praise, telling reporters, “I think we have got a gem there, to be honest.” The striker also joked about Bouaddi’s passing accuracy, adding, “I think he should’ve played me through in the second half so I was a bit angry… But he played a good game… except for that pass.”