Barcelona currently boasts a crowded midfield roster featuring Pedri, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal, and Marc Casado. However, the club is working on negotiating a sale for Casado, whose playing time has diminished over the past year.
This might open a spot for a new midfielder. According to reports from Spanish media, Barcelona is among the clubs interested in 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, a Lille midfielder whose impressive World Cup performances with Morocco have made him one of Europe's brightest young talents.
Barcelona faces competition from Real Madrid, PSG, and several Premier League clubs for the teenage prospect, whose market value surged after his breakthrough tournament.
Bouaddi fits the profile Barcelona seeks: young, technically gifted, physically ready to develop, and capable of becoming a long-term midfield option. Yet, this won't be an easy deal. Following a standout World Cup showing, a young player's market price tends to soar.
Lille holds a strong negotiating position, asking for around €80 million and showing no urgency to sell. Bouaddi’s contract runs until 2029, and Lille’s participation in the 2026-27 Champions League season provides the club an opportunity to increase his valuation further.
For Barcelona, the high fee makes this a strategic decision that requires careful planning, especially considering their financial reality. While Bouaddi is an attractive target to diversify the midfield, the club’s interest remains in the monitoring phase rather than advanced negotiations.
Barcelona is expected to keep Bouaddi on their radar but will likely avoid pursuing a move at the current price. Developing midfield talents from La Masia remains a more practical path given the circumstances.
