Soccer-Man City manager Maresca urges patience with new signing Bouaddi


Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - August 23, 2026 Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca reacts REUTERS/Chris Radburn

Aug 27 (Reuters) - Manchester City manager ⁠Enzo Maresca praised new signing Ayyoub Bouaddi on Thursday but said ⁠the club would take a cautious approach with the highly-rated teenager ‌as he adapts to life in England.

City signed the 18-year-old Morocco midfielder from Lille on a five-year deal on Wednesday and Maresca said Bouaddi, who played at this year's Word ​Cup, will have a bright future at The ⁠Etihad.

"He's ready and he was working ⁠with his former club so he is fit. He's quite calm, he does ⁠not ‌look 18," Maresca told reporters Friday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.

"In this case we need to go slowly because he is ⁠very young and came from a different country. So ​no rush for ‌him but for sure he is going to help us now and ⁠in the ​future."

Maresca also provided a positive injury update on the club's new midfielder Elliot Anderson, who was forced off during the second half of City's home win over Bournemouth ⁠last weekend.

"Elliot Anderson is fine after coming off ​with cramp. Matheus (Nunes) is not 100 percent having come off the bench against Bournemouth. Jeremy Doku is still out," Maresca said.

He also confirmed the departure of ⁠forward Omar Marmoush, who has been widely linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, and said discussions were ongoing with forward Jack Grealish amid reports he could leave before the transfer window closes.

Maresca, however, would not be drawn ​on City's transfer plans as reports continue to link ⁠the club with a move for Chelsea's Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

"Anything can happen ​in the window, we will see," Maresca said. "In ‌this moment it is quite complicated to ​think about the window because we have a game in 24 hours."

(Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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