LILLE, France (AP) — Highly rated teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi was left out of Lille's squad for its opening game of the season on Sunday amid reports of an imminent big-money move to Premier League giant Manchester City.
The website of sports daily L’Equipe and RMC radio said that the 18-year-old Bouaddi was set to join City for 100 million euros ($117 million) on a five-year contract.
“Things have progressed well concerning his departure. We prepared this week without him," Lille's sports coordinator Sylvain Armand said on broadcaster Ligue1+. “Not everything has been done with yet and the (Lille) president will announce things when the time comes. But things have advanced well so I think the deal is not far away.”
Bouaddi joined in the pre-match warmup before Lille's 2-0 win at Angers even though he was not in the matchday squad.
He impressed at the World Cup for Morocco with his assured touch, tactical understanding and maturity. City is looking for a long-term replacement for former Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who recently joined Barcelona after helping Spain win the World Cup.
Speaking after City's 2-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday, City manager Enzo Maresca was asked about the imminent arrival of Bouaddi.
“To be honest, I didn't see anyone at the club. So after the press conference I will see them,” Maresca said. “I don't know if there is any update at the moment ... we'll see.”
Bouaddi caught the eye two years ago when he was already being touted as Lille's best midfielder since Eden Hazard, who left to become a Premier League star with Chelsea.
Bouaddi joined Lille’s academy in 2021 and, just three days after his 16th birthday, became the youngest player to appear in a European game in a Europa Conference League match last October against KI Klaksvík.
Big sales
Lille sold Ivory Coast forward Nicolas Pépé to Arsenal in 2019 for 80 million euros.
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen went to Napoli the following year for a similar amount. ___
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