Bouaddi's Arsenal Gamble Risky, Warns Parker as Madrid Circle

Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi could be making a career mistake by swapping France for the Premier League, according to former Manchester United defender Paul Parker, who has cautioned the Morocco international against a move to Arsenal.

The Gunners are scouting midfield reinforcements following Martin Zubimendi's disappointing end to last season, and have reportedly initiated discussions with Bouaddi after his eye-catching World Cup displays. Newcastle's Sandro Tonali has also featured on their radar.

Parker, speaking to Betarades, expressed serious reservations about the 18-year-old's potential fit at the Emirates. "You'd worry about his career if he was to go to Arsenal," the pundit declared, highlighting concerns that the club's style of play could stifle a player of Bouaddi's profile.

The former defender drew parallels with Sofyan Amrabat's trajectory, noting how the Moroccan midfielder burst onto the scene at Qatar 2022 before disappointing at Manchester United. "You don't want to get caught up in that kind of World Cup madness because of one performance," Parker cautioned. "He's going to have to deliver again and show consistency."

However, Emmanuel Petit has been thoroughly impressed by Bouaddi's progression in Ligue 1 and on the international stage. Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Arsenal midfielder praised his "maturity and personality," highlighting his technical quality, physical attributes, and tactical intelligence. "I'm not surprised at all that he's been targeted for two seasons now with the big clubs in Europe," Petit told the station.

Real Madrid have now emerged as serious contenders for Bouaddi's signature. According to Sky Germany's Patrick Berger, the Spanish giants are "very interested" in landing the youngster this summer. Scouts including Juni Calafat attended Morocco's clash with Brazil in New Jersey to monitor the teenager closely, with the club set to continue tracking developments.

Lille are holding firm on their valuation, demanding a minimum of €70m for their prized asset.