Patrick Vieira has expressed his admiration for Morocco's World Cup star Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is a top transfer target for Arsenal. The 18-year-old midfielder has been one of the standout performers at the 2026 World Cup, impressing in Morocco's opening matches against Brazil and Scotland.
Vieira's Endorsement
The French World Cup winner told Rest is Football: 'Really impressive, he's only 18 but he plays like a 30-year-old. He's got the tactical awareness, I think he's always well positioned. He's got the technical ability to play out from the back and a really strong personality. I quite like the midfield three from Morocco but, of course, he's the talent in this team.'
Upon hearing Vieira's comments, Chelsea legend Joe Cole jokingly responded: 'Let's hope he doesn't go to Arsenal then!' Cole added: 'He's brilliant. He's been the best young player I've seen at the tournament so far. I was at Lille where he plays and I spoke to some of the guys there, the physios. There's been a lot of good young players come through Lille and I was asking about him. They said he's as good as anything they've seen come through this system. They said he plays like a senior player, which we've seen in these first two games.'
Arsenal's Pursuit
Arsenal have been in talks to sign Bouaddi from Lille for several months, but his World Cup performances have attracted interest from rival clubs, including PSG. Lille have placed a €70 million (£60.4 million) price tag on the midfielder, while Manchester United and Real Madrid are also monitoring the situation.
Gary Lineker previously called Bouaddi 'outstanding' and a 'breakout star' after Morocco's 1-0 victory over Scotland. The young midfielder has shown maturity beyond his years, contributing both offensively and defensively.
World Cup Focus
Despite the transfer speculation, Bouaddi remains focused on the World Cup. Morocco currently sits second in Group C and is well-positioned to advance to the knockout stage. They could top the group if they beat Haiti and Scotland defeats Brazil next week.
For now, Arsenal fans will be hoping Vieira's praise and Bouaddi's continued success will help secure the midfielder's signature in the summer transfer window.
