Ayyoub Bouaddi is said to have emerged as a summer target for the Red Devils (Image: GETTY)
are said to be eyeing a move for an academic genius who is pursuing a maths degree alongside his football career. The Red Devils have prioritised recruiting young talent over the last few transfer windows, with the likes of Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven moving to Old Trafford as potential stars of the future.
United are reportedly set to maintain this policy in the summer by targeting a move for Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi. The midfielder is already excelling at the highest level, having established himself as a first-team regular this season. One of his most impressive displays came against Real Madrid in the Champions League, where he bossed the engine room to help Lille secure victory and a clean sheet.
Bouaddi has developed a reputation as a boy genius and is pursuing a maths degree (Image: GETTY)
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It has been reported that United are one of several clubs keeping an eye on Bouaddi with a view to signing him at the end of the season. Scouts have returned ‘glowing’ reports on the 17-year-old, according to , with the Red Devils already well aware of his sky-high potential.
Bouaddi is not only a talented footballer, having developed a reputation as a boy genius alongside his career on the pitch. He has shown an incredible aptitude for academia and is currently pursuing a degree in mathematics, telling that it helps him to ‘understand the game quicker’.
He added: “In my daily life in Lille, we have training in the morning and in my free time I can do what I want. I wanted to continue my studies because it allows me to use this free time to learn. It’s also part of the way I was raised by my family. When you study on the side, it allows you to keep your mind sharp.”
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Last year, Bouaddi scored top marks in the French equivalent of his A-levels, sitting them a year earlier than the rest of his peers. He is also a confident public speaker, winning a competition at the Elysee Palace aged just 15. French first lady Brigitte Macron was among the high-profile names watching on.
It remains to be seen if Bouaddi will live up to his potential on the football pitch, with United hoping to convince him that Old Trafford is the right place to continue his development. They are not the only club in the race, though, with the likes of , and also thought to be keen.
There is said to be additional interest coming from elsewhere in Europe, meaning United will surely face a stiff battle to secure his signature. The likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig have all reportedly sent scouts to watch Bouaddi over the last 12 months.