Ayyoub Bouaddi will head to Manchester City two months shy of his 19th birthday and two weeks after Rodri left for Barcelona on a deal that will yield at least $110 million plus add-ons to Lille, according to David Ornstein.
No pressure, kid.
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The France youth international had already won acclaim in Ligue 1 beginning two weeks after his 16th birthday when he debuted for Lille in the league.
And things really escalated at this summer's World Cup when he started five of six games for Morocco.
There will surely be growing pains as the teenager adjusts to the Premier League in City's new-look midfield, but let's take a look at why Bouaddi is viewing as the next big thing.
Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City: Why 18-year-old is viewed as Rodri replacement
This is a long play from City in terms of finding their ‘next' Rodri, which is a huge statement as Ballon d'Or midfielders don't grow on trees.
Bouaddi has flashed very little offensive upside with four assists in 96 senior appearances for Lille, though the goals did not flow for Rodri either when the Spaniard broke into Valencia's team as a 19-year-old.
Bouaddi has benefited from 36-year-old midfield mate Benjamin Andre, growing each season and learning when and where to utilize his elite dribbling skills. Defensively, he averaged 2.5 tackles and 5.8 recoveries per 90 minutes last season for a Lille side that finished third in a muddled race for Ligue 1's Champions League places.
City manager Enzo Maresca will oversee a midfield sea change at the club — overhaul isn't close to a strong enough word. Rodri and Bernardo Silva have left, and Elliot Anderson will have to adjust to a new level after his stardom with Nottingham Forest. Mateo Kovacic, Nico O'Reilly, and Rico Lewis could all play roles but Nico Gonzalez may be leaving the club, too.
Bouaddi will likely be asked to keep it simple — destroy counterattacks and protect the back four, then worry about developing his attacking game. How quickly he adjusts to the Premier League may well dictate City's ceiling for the Premier League and Champions League.
