Arabic version: بواعْدي يتألق في أول مشاركة أساسية له مع مانشستر سيتي

According to BBC News, Ayyoub Bouaddi delivered a composed Champions League display on his first start for Manchester City as the club won 2-0 at Porto. Erling Haaland scored both goals, but the 18-year-old midfielder drew attention for his assured work in the centre of the pitch.

City signed Bouaddi from Lille for £86m after he took centre stage for Morocco at this summer’s World Cup. The deal made him the most expensive teenager in Premier League history. Having previously made two substitute appearances for City, he became the fourth-youngest player to start a Champions League match for the club at 18 years and 341 days.

Bouaddi completed 54 of 55 passes in Portugal. He also led players from both sides for dribbles, with four, possession won, with seven, and duels contested, with 13. Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live that Bouaddi looked “very special” and called him “a class act”.

Manager Enzo Maresca praised the midfielder’s maturity, saying Bouaddi was “very good” against Porto. Maresca also highlighted the teenager’s ability to speak French, English and Spanish, and said this was why City had made the effort to bring him to the club.

Haaland said Bouaddi had been “amazing” in training over recent weeks and described him as “a gem”. The striker added that he had been frustrated by one second-half pass, but said his team-mate had played a good game. City’s early assessment is that Bouaddi has the attributes to develop into a world-class talent.