Erling Haaland hails Man City team-mate Ayyoub Bouaddi as a ‘real gem’ after Porto win

Erling Haaland has tipped Manchester City’s new teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi to make a major impact this season after an impressive Champions League debut against Porto.

The 18-year-old midfielder produced a commanding display as Manchester City opened their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory at the Estádio do Dragão, with Haaland scoring both goals after the break.

Bouaddi, who joined City from Lille during the summer, made his first start for the club alongside Enzo Fernandez at the base of midfield after the pair arrived for a combined fee of more than £200 million.

While Haaland grabbed the headlines with his brace, it was Bouaddi’s composure and all-round performance that caught the eye, prompting the Norwegian striker to predict a bright future for the France youth international.

“He did a really good game. The last couple of weeks in training, he’s been amazing. I think we have got a gem there, to be honest.”

Bouaddi dominates in Porto

Bouaddi has so far been restricted to substitute appearances under Enzo Maresca, but his opportunity from the start in Portugal showed why City invested heavily in the teenager.

Despite some early nervous moments, the former Lille playmaker quickly settled into the contest and played an influential role in City’s control of the game.

He completed 54 of his 55 passes, underlining his accuracy and composure in possession against a Porto side playing on home soil.

Bouaddi also topped the statistics across both teams for dribbles, completing four, while winning possession seven times.

His physical involvement was equally notable. The teenager contested 13 duels, more than any other player involved in the match, demonstrating a willingness to compete alongside his technical qualities.

Maresca had already praised Bouaddi’s maturity, and the youngster strengthened that reputation with a performance that suggested he could soon become a regular feature in City’s midfield.

Maresca gets winning start

The victory also gave Maresca an ideal start to his first Champions League campaign as City manager.

After a goalless first half, Haaland eventually broke Porto’s resistance in the second period before adding another goal to secure all three points for the visitors.

City spent heavily during the summer to strengthen their squad, but Bouaddi’s early impact suggests the club may have secured more than another expensive signing.