Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has been the breakout star of the current 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Moroccan midfielder has received interest from four clubs and Manchester City are leading the race to sign him away from Lille, according to a report from Fabrizio Romano. City could secure his signing and then allow the midfielder to stay at Lille for another season, per that same report.
Real Madrid had been linked with Bouaddi since the start of the World Cup, and a potential interest in the midfielder would make a ton of sense since his profile fits what Los Blancos have been desperately needing for quite some time.
If Bouaddi keeps playing at this level, other clubs like Paris Saint-Germain will likely enter the race to sign him as well. Madrid have yet to confirm their interest, but president Florentino Pérez has always paid close attention to previous editions of the World Cup.