Meunier played alongside Bouaddi at Lille during the 2024-25 season, giving him a close-up view of the midfielder's development before his rise into one of Europe's most coveted young players.
Speaking to The Athletic in the aftermath of Bouaddi's 100 million euro move from Lille to Manchester City, the Belgian, now at Sunderland, said the transfer fee itself had become almost meaningless as a measure of a player's true quality.
"Ayyoub is incredible. But we no longer need to talk about money, because there's no logic left to it anymore," Meunier said. "You can buy a donkey for ₤200 million and a very good player for 20 million. There's no sense to it anymore."
Bouaddi, 18, made 96 appearances for his boyhood club before starring at this summer's World Cup with Morocco, starting five of the Atlas Lions' six matches at the tournament. His performances in France and on the international stage ultimately persuaded City to beat competition from Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich for his signature, in a deal that set a new club-record sale for Lille.
Meunier's comments reflect a broader unease among senior professionals about the scale of spending now common at the top end of the market, where fees for elite young talents have continued to climb even as valuations elsewhere in the game have become increasingly unpredictable.
Despite his scepticism about the numbers involved, Meunier was unequivocal in his praise for Bouaddi's ability, describing him as a player capable of justifying the investment on talent alone, even if the wider market around him no longer makes obvious sense.
Meunier, 34, joined Sunderland this summer on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Lille, a career that has also taken in Club Brugge, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Trabzonspor, giving him a wealth of experience observing how transfer valuations have shifted across multiple leagues and eras.