Erling Haaland praised Manchester City team-mate Ayoub Bouaddi after the club’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Porto, describing the 18-year-old midfielder as “a real diamond”.
Haaland was the decisive figure in the match, scoring both of Manchester City’s goals in the opening round of the league phase. Bouaddi did not contribute a goal or assist, but his performance still earned recognition from the Norway striker.
The comments underline the strong impression Bouaddi has made since joining Manchester City. The Morocco midfielder moved to the club from Lille at the end of the summer in a deal worth 95m euros.
Bouaddi’s arrival represents a major investment by Manchester City in a player who is still only 18. Although he did not get on the scoresheet against Porto, Haaland’s public praise placed attention on the newcomer after a match dominated by the Norwegian’s finishing.
For Manchester City, the 2-0 result provided a winning start to their Champions League campaign. Haaland supplied all of the club’s goals, while Bouaddi featured as part of the team that secured victory over Porto in the competition’s first round of the league phase.
The result and Haaland’s contribution were the immediate headlines from the game, but the striker’s assessment of Bouaddi offered a separate talking point. Calling his team-mate “a real diamond”, Haaland highlighted the qualities he believes the young midfielder possesses.
Bouaddi joined Manchester City following his move from Lille late in the summer. The 95m-euro fee makes him one of the most significant additions to the squad, while his age means he remains at the beginning of his senior career.
His lack of a goal or assist against Porto did not prevent him from receiving praise. Instead, Haaland’s comments focused on Bouaddi’s potential and the value of his contribution to the side beyond the final statistics.
The match therefore combined two developments for Manchester City: Haaland’s two-goal display secured the points, and Bouaddi’s involvement was followed by an endorsement from one of the club’s leading players. The Morocco midfielder will now continue his adaptation to life at Manchester City after arriving from Lille in a 95m-euro transfer.
For the moment, the clearest individual statement from the game came from Haaland, who scored twice against Porto and labelled the club’s new signing “a real diamond”.