Ayyoub Bouaddi opens up before his first Manchester derby

In just a few hours before experiencing the Manchester derby, Ayyoub Bouaddi has shared his thoughts on his early days wearing the Manchester City jersey. Arriving from Lille this summer, the 18-year-old Moroccan international fully understands the journey ahead of him and intends to take advantage of the particularly strong competition in midfield to continue his development.

Despite a promising start in England, Bouaddi remains grounded and views his arrival at one of the biggest European clubs as an opportunity to learn every day.

“I know that I still have a lot to learn from all the players, I hope so. I am at Manchester City, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I have a very great player next to me [Elliot Anderson], so I can only learn here and enjoy myself,” explains the young Moroccan.

Bouaddi also does not hide the fact that he closely observes other midfielders in the squad to enrich his game.

“I think I can learn from everyone. But of course, I mainly watch the players who play in the same position as me. Elliot, Kova, Enzo, and the other midfielders are all great players, with experience, and they can teach me a lot.”

Bouaddi wants to prove he deserves his place

However, his adaptation is not solely about learning from his new teammates. Since arriving in Manchester, the former Lille player also wants to showcase the qualities that convinced City to invest in him.

“When you arrive, you want to show that you are here, that you are a good player and demonstrate your qualities, show that you are capable of playing and helping the team,” confides Bouaddi.

The Atlas Lion believes that this desire to quickly find his place applies to all newcomers.

“I think that’s what Elliot has done, what I have done, and what all the players who arrived this summer have done.”

At just 18 years old, Bouaddi thus displays a clear ambition: to establish himself in a particularly competitive squad while remaining at the service of the collective.

“It’s about showing through my qualities that I deserve to be here, that I am really happy to be here, that I can help the team and that I will give everything for this team and for this city.”

This determination accompanies his first steps in his new colors. The Moroccan midfielder continues to gain experience at the highest level and is now looking to gradually take on more responsibilities in the Manchester midfield.

A highly anticipated first derby

Now it’s time for a match of a completely different dimension. Manchester City will travel to Old Trafford this Sunday to face Manchester United in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the English season.

For Bouaddi, who is about to experience his first Manchester derby since his arrival in the Premier League, the special significance of this match is not lost on him.

“When you are a child and you watch football, you want to play the biggest matches. I think this weekend’s match will be a very good match against United, the derby. It’s obviously an important match for us, for the supporters, for everyone.”

The young Moroccan international could thus add another prestigious fixture to his start in English football. At just 18 years old, Bouaddi is quickly discovering the demands of the highest level, including internal competition, major European matches, and now the unique pressure of a Manchester derby.

Manchester United vs. Manchester City will kick off this Sunday, September 13, at 5:30 PM French time, at Old Trafford.