Real Madrid Eyeing Lille's Bouaddi as Mourinho Overhauls Midfield

Real Madrid have added another name to their midfield shopping list. The Spanish giants are keeping tabs on Ayyoub Bouaddi, the Lille teenager who's caught plenty of attention during his World Cup performances with Morocco.

The 18-year-old has become one of the breakout stars of the tournament, and it's not hard to see why – he made 42 appearances for Lille last season, chipping in with an assist along the way. Now, with Jose Mourinho freshly installed as manager for a second stint at the Bernabéu, Madrid are actively scouting reinforcements in midfield.

Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea remains the club's primary target, though Mourinho has also cast an eye towards fellow Portuguese prospect Mateus Fernandes at West Ham. But Bouaddi, according to reports from Marca, has emerged as another genuine option on their radar.

Giroud's Glowing Endorsement

Olivier Giroud, Bouaddi's teammate at Lille, has become something of an unlikely evangelist for the young midfielder's talents. The veteran striker has given his backing in no uncertain terms, suggesting the Morocco international will end up at Real Madrid – provided he tightens up his finishing.

"At Lille, we have a laugh about Ayyoub's finishing," Giroud told reporters. "But if he sorts that out, he'll be at Real Madrid next season. He reminds me of Busquets – his head's in the right place. They'll struggle to keep him there. I reckon they'll be asking for more than 70 million for him."

Speaking separately, Giroud waxed even more lyrical about the youngster's overall development. He highlighted the remarkable maturity Bouaddi displays both on and off the pitch, drawing a contrast with his own teenage years in the French lower divisions. Giroud described him as someone who already possesses "extraordinary values" and predicted a bright future ahead.

Competition Heating Up

Bouaddi's stock continues to rise across Europe's elite clubs. Arsenal and Liverpool have both made moves, with transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano confirming that the two Premier League sides have held multiple meetings with Bouaddi's representatives since January.

Paris Saint-Germain have maintained a watching brief for months, though midfield recruitment isn't their immediate priority. Juventus showed interest as far back as April 2025, but the financial side of any deal proved problematic at that point.

Romano has warned that expect further developments – this is a young player genuinely in demand, and late moves from other interested parties wouldn't be a surprise as the window progresses.