Ayyoub Bouaddi delivered a composed midfield display in Manchester City’s 2-0 Champions League victory over FC Porto on Tuesday, earning immediate praise from Erling Haaland and manager Enzo Maresca. The 18-year-old Moroccan international started for the first time under the new regime and sustained his performance for 75 minutes at the Estádio do Dragão.
Haaland’s Endorsement Reaches City’s Boardroom
Haaland, who scored both goals in the Porto rout, offered an effusive assessment of Bouaddi’s contribution immediately after full-time. “He had a very good match. In recent weeks, he has been incredible in training,” the Norwegian striker said. His backing extended beyond the pitch: Haaland revealed he had already flagged the midfielder’s potential directly to Manchester City president Khaldoon Al Mubarak. “I told him that we have a gem. Honestly, I really think we have a special player on our hands,” Haaland explained.
The striker’s only reservation came with characteristic levity. Bouaddi failed to pick out Haaland in space during the second half, prompting a playful rebuke: “He should have passed me the ball in the second half; I was completely alone. I was a bit annoyed, so I will talk to him about it now! But he had a good match, except for that pass.”
Statistical Blueprint of a Composed Debut
Bouaddi’s underlying numbers vindicated Haaland’s assessment. The teenager accumulated 71 touches, maintained a 95% pass accuracy rate, and won every tackle he contested—a flawless defensive record across 75 minutes of European football. His control and distribution in midfield stood out against a Porto side that offered sustained resistance in the opening half.
Why Maresca and Haaland’s Backing Matters Now
Bouaddi’s breakthrough comes as Maresca shapes Manchester City’s midfield identity following Kalvin Phillips’s departure and Julian Alvarez’s summer exit. A teenager earning simultaneous validation from both the club’s highest-profile striker and its new manager signals genuine positioning within the squad hierarchy. Haaland’s direct communication with Al Mubarak—rarely seen from any player toward ownership—underscores the weight he attaches to Bouaddi’s potential. For a player still months away from his 19th birthday, the speed of integration and the caliber of endorsement represent a significant credential ahead of sustained first-team exposure.
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