The Morocco international discussed his footballing influences on Manchester City’s official podcast, explaining how watching Iniesta’s technique left a lasting impression despite having seen relatively few of the Spanish midfielder’s full matches.
“If I was forced to choose a player I had watched play, I would choose Andrés Iniesta. I didn’t see many of his matches, but what I saw was fantastic,” Bouaddi said
The 18-year-old added that online compilations played a major role in shaping his early appreciation of the former Barcelona star.
“I grew up during the generation when YouTube compilations were common, and as a child I used to search for clips of Iniesta’s dribbling every day,” he said.
Bouaddi joined City from Lille in August in a deal reported to be worth around €100 million, signing a contract through to 2031. The transfer made him one of the most expensive teenage signings in Premier League history.
His move followed a rapid rise at Lille, where he made his senior debut at just 16 and developed into a regular first-team midfielder. He had also represented France at youth level before switching his senior international allegiance to Morocco, the country of his parents.
Bouaddi featured for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, gaining experience on football’s biggest stage before beginning his new chapter in England. His technical composure and ability to operate in central midfield were among the qualities that attracted City.
The young midfielder is now adapting to a new club and league. His early appearances have included limited opportunities in the starting side, while he continues to compete for a regular place in a squad undergoing significant midfield changes.
Iniesta, who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and collected multiple Champions League titles with Barcelona, became renowned for his close control, movement and ability to dictate play in crowded areas. Those qualities have made him an enduring reference point for technically gifted midfielders.
Bouaddi’s comments offer a glimpse into the footballing ideas that inspired him before his own career reached the highest level. At City, he will now look to turn that admiration into his own identity as he develops under the club’s coaching staff.