Real Madrid are tracking Ayyoub Bouaddi during the 2026 World Cup, adding another major European name to the race around a Lille midfielder already on the Paris Saint-Germain radar.
The 18-year-old Morocco international has emerged as one of the tournament’s standout young midfielders, with his performances against Brazil and Scotland pushing his profile well beyond Ligue 1. For PSG, that matters because Bouaddi fits the type of technically secure, high-upside French-market signing that has shaped the club’s recent recruitment under Luis Enrique and Luis Campos.
According to a fresh update from AS, Real Madrid are keeping close tabs on Bouaddi as they assess World Cup performers who could become post-tournament targets. The report frames him as one of the under-23 names attracting serious attention after his calm, mature displays for Morocco.
Why PSG will watch Bouaddi’s World Cup closely
Bouaddi is not a panic-market profile. He is contracted at Lille, already tested in senior football, and young enough for an elite club to believe there is still a major development curve to unlock. That combination is exactly why PSG cannot treat Madrid’s interest as background noise.
There is no confirmed bid from Real Madrid, and PSG have not announced any formal move. But the dynamic is clear: every composed World Cup performance makes Bouaddi harder to price, harder to keep quiet, and harder for PSG to approach without wider competition.
If Paris want to keep this deal in the attainable category, the next step is not just scouting. It is deciding how high Bouaddi sits among their summer midfield priorities before the World Cup turns long-term interest into a full European auction.
