Bouaddi frontrunner to replace Rodri at Man City

Manchester City have identified Ayyoub Bouaddi as their leading option to replace Rodri, with the club in advanced talks with Lille over a move for the highly rated Morocco midfielder, according to the BBC.

City are keen to complete the deal this week after Spain captain Rodri agreed to join Barcelona for around £65 million, bringing an end to his seven-year spell at the Etihad.

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The departure of the 30-year-old leaves new manager Enzo Maresca with one of the biggest challenges of his first season in charge. Rodri made 298 appearances for City after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and played a central role in four Premier League titles and their Champions League triumph.

“All the teams need a Rodri,” Maresca said after City’s Community Shield defeat against Arsenal on Saturday.

Finding a direct replacement, however, will be difficult. City appear to have settled on a younger solution, with Bouaddi emerging as the frontrunner.

A deep-lying midfielder by trade, Bouaddi is viewed as the closest stylistic fit for Rodri. He has the composure to receive the ball under pressure, dictate play from deep and help

control the tempo, qualities that could make him a natural fit for Maresca’s system.

His age, though, means expecting him to immediately reproduce Rodri’s influence would be unrealistic. City could instead look to distribute the Spaniard’s responsibilities across several midfielders.

The 18-year-old has impressed rapidly since making his Lille debut in October 2023, just three days after his 16th birthday. He has since made 88 appearances for the French club and helped them finish third in Ligue 1 last season.

Bouaddi is valued by Lille at around £85.6m, but City are understood to be pushing to conclude negotiations. His performances on the biggest stage have accelerated his rise, with his role in Lille’s Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024 followed by a starring campaign for Morocco at this summer’s World Cup.

He started five of Morocco’s six matches as they reached the quarter-finals.

Among other alternatives, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, whom Maresca knows from Stamford Bridge, offers defensive solidity and attacking quality, but his reported £120m valuation makes a deal difficult. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is another possibility, although his club have rejected a £64m bid from Chelsea. Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister would bring Premier League experience and versatility, but Liverpool may resist selling to a domestic rival.