Ayyoub Bouaddi and Morocco's great run is over but he has proved those who see him as a world star exactly right
Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with Ayyoub Bouaddi
Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with Ayyoub Bouaddi(Image: Getty Images)
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Morocco star Ayyoub Bouaddi's World Cup is over, but he could still have his pick of clubs in the Premier League and around Europe the way he is going.
And make no mistake, this year's tournament in the US for Bouaddi was simply his first, because both he and classy Morocco will be back for more, despite their loss to France in Boston.
The teen was outstanding against Brazil, flawless against Scotland and did enough against Holland, France and Canada to suggest he can deal with the biggest stage of all.
Only sunk by goals from Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappe, Morocco have been a credit to the game during another excellent World Cup, but Bouaddi has now cemented himself as one of the best young stars in the global game.
Andrey Santos and Ederson may well be on their way to United, but there's an argument that whatever else can be invested this summer should be spent on the young Moroccan, even if the two arrivals means - alongisde Kobbie Mainoo - that Michael Carrick with have three strong central midfield options.
Bouaddi would be a long-term signing but is one who can make an immediate impact now as well. He became the second-youngest player to play in a FIFA World Cup quarter-final, with only the great Pele to beat him way back in 1958, on Thursday.
One of the standout young stars of the World Cup, the 18-year-old plays above his years and makes it look so easy as he holds the midfield, but also splits defences with a killer pass or two.
Bouaddi shone again in the World Cup quarter-final and offered an early signal of intent with a perfectly timed tackle on Kylian Mbappe.
Ayyoub Bouaddi looks to be a world beater
Ayyoub Bouaddi looks to be a world beater in the making - and United should seriously doing whatever it takes to get him in now(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
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A couple of months ago, Newcastle United are believed to have made an enquiry on the Lille youngster, but they were told he would probably cost close to £100m.
The reality was they could only dream of replacing Tonali with the teenage genius who could go on to dominate European football for a decade or more if he keeps going like this.
He would follow Morocco stars Noussair Mazraoui and Sofyan Amrabat to Old Trafford, but would be deemed a marquee signing, and given Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are on his trail, it would also be regarded as a major coup.
Watching him spray the play in midfield so effortlessly, you would not think he has only 63 senior appearances in the league for Lille. That's even more so the case when you consider how composed on the ball and mature in the tackle he is.
Lille president Olivier Letang knows he could hit the jackpot if he sold Bouaddi and he feels he could be worth more than Man City new boy £116m Elliot Anderson and £100m Tonali.
Letang was asked for a valuation of Bouaddi but said: ”How to respond to this question... have I spoken about this subject, given a number? No, never.
”It would have to reflect his level. How much were players like Anderson and Tonali sold for, who are older [than Bouaddi], but with less room for improvement?
Andrey Santos is wanted by Man United.
United are set to sign two new midfielders, including Andrey Santos from Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
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"So you have an idea about the value of Ayyoub, who has a unique profile at just 18 years old.”
So how did Bouaddi do against France overall? In a stellar midfield battle, he emerged from the first half with 40 touches, and only Achraf Hakimi managed more, as well as having just five fewer than Desire Doue (45).
Up against the more experienced figures, Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan and AS Roma star Manu Kone, he breezed through as France were held to a goalless opening 45 minutes, as Kylian Mbappé's spot-kick blunder cost the World Cup favourites dear.
By the time his number came up, he'd had only five more touches but made 40 passes on the night without finding the defence-splitting moment he was looking for.
His shift came to an end after 62 minutes when he was replaced by Amrabat, but it does not alter the fact that he's had a great World Cup.
And make no doubt about it, this is not the last we've seen of him, even at £100m, he could feel like a steal for Man United. But the club's higher-ups need to act now, or risk missing out on a generational talent, because someone is bound to go all out for him.