Manchester City and Real Madrid will fight for the main opening of the 2026 World Cup

The midfielder of the French Lille and the national team of Morocco Ayoub Bouaddi found himself in the center of attention of the top clubs in Europe. According to journalist Matteo Moretto, one of the main contenders for the young man is currently Manchester City. It is reported that the City management have already established contact with the French side and intend to complete the transfer of the 18-year-old player during the current summer transfer window. Ayoub Bouaddi is deservedly considered one of the brightest discoveries of the 2026 World Cup. The young Moroccan has been impressing on the international stage, underpinning the high profile he has built up with consistent performances for Lille. However, the English giant is not the only candidate for a football player. Real Madrid is actively interested in his progress. Scouts of the royal club personally attend the matches of the Moroccan national team at the World Cup in order to assess the potential of the young midfielder with their own eyes. The situation with Buaddi's potential transfer has several important nuances: The player's contract with Lille runs until the summer of 2029. The contract does not specify a fixed amount of severance pay. We will remind, based on the results of the group stage, the Moroccan national team took second place in Quartet C. In the playoffs, Wahbi's wards will play against the Netherlands. The match is scheduled for June 30, starting at 04:00.