Manchester City: “The player I watched? It’s …” Ayoub Bouaddi reveals his idol!

The Moroccan reveals his admiration for Iniesta and confirms his qualities in his first matches for Manchester City

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Manchester City: “The player I watched? It’s …” Ayoub Bouaddi reveals his idol!

Manchester City’s revelation at the start of the season, Ayoub Bouaddi spoke about his admiration for Andrés Iniesta, whose technical moves he studied on YouTube.

At 19, Ayoub Bouaddi is beginning to establish himself in the Manchester City squad. Having come through Lille, the Moroccan midfielder already has a very specific role model. In an interview with the Citizens’ official media, he revealed that he grew up watching one of FC Barcelona’s great figures: Andrés Iniesta.

“The player I watched? It’s Andrés Iniesta. He was the player I followed the most. I didn’t see him play very often, but on the few occasions I did, his performance was incredible,” he said.

“Then I grew up during the generation of YouTube video compilations. When I was a child, I watched videos of Iniesta’s technical moves on YouTube every day,” Bouaddi added. A choice that reflects his taste for ball control, passing quality and playing under pressure.

🇲🇦 Ayyoub Bouaddi a grandi en regardant Andrés Iniesta. Il explique qu’il allait sur YouTube pour apprendre ses gestes techniques, comme ces jeunes qui ont appris le football en regardant des compilations. 🎥⚽️ https://t.co/cDuiJba0u2
— Lion Times 🇲🇦 (@LionTimes_) October 22, 2026

Bouaddi makes his mark at Manchester City

This inspiration is gradually showing on the Premier League pitches. On Saturday, October 17, Bouaddi made his first league appearance as a starter in City’s victory over Ipswich Town (3-2). Phil Foden opened the scoring and Erling Haaland scored twice for Enzo Maresca’s side.

The young Moroccan had 92 touches, won seven ground duels and completed seven line-breaking passes, according to the report published by Manchester City. The figures illustrate his ability to contribute in several areas of midfield.

“I’m very happy, of course. That’s football, and I love playing. I want to take part in every match, but I know that this is part of the development process,” Bouaddi said after the match. Speaking about his teammates, he added: “It’s easier to play with this kind of player. Even if I sometimes make a passing mistake, they are capable of fixing everything.”

Enzo Maresca calls for patience

His coach made no secret of his satisfaction. “He was good on the ball, good off the ball. He is still very young and needs to improve in certain areas, but he is on the right track,” Enzo Maresca explained after the victory over Ipswich.

Bouaddi had already shown promising qualities during the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. The confidence shown by the coaching staff marks progress, but the Morocco international will have to prove himself over time to establish a place in a particularly competitive squad. His admiration for Iniesta nevertheless offers insight into the player he aspires to become.

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