The transfer saga surrounding Lille midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi has turned into a public spat between two Premier League giants. Sources close to Manchester City assert that Chelsea made a direct request for the Citizens to withdraw from the race for the 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder.
According to Manchester's representatives, the London club aimed to eliminate a rival from the chase in order to secure Bouaddi as a replacement for the departed Enzo Fernandez. Furthermore, it is claimed that Chelsea officials allegedly proposed a swap deal involving right-back Malo Gusto and midfielder Nico O'Reilly, with City reportedly required to add an £80 million sweetener to the exchange.
However, Chelsea’s hierarchy have strongly denied these assertions, emphasising that they never asked City to step back from the Bouaddi deal. Stamford Bridge officials firmly stated that Malo Gusto was never placed on the transfer market and was not considered as a bargaining chip in any potential transactions.
With the conflicting accounts from both camps, the true details of the negotiations remain shrouded in mystery, but ultimately, the 18-year-old talent has signed with Manchester City.
