Bouaddi needs time to settle at Man City, says Maresca
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) — Ayyoub Bouaddi is “ready to go” for his Manchester City debut at Crystal Palace on Friday, but Enzo Maresca called for patience with the most expensive teenager in Premier League history.
A star of Morocco’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals, the 18-year-old joined City on Wednesday for an initial 100 million euros (£85.6 million,US $117 million) from Lille.
City moved for Bouaddi after selling a trio of midfielders in Spain’s World Cup-winning captain Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez in recent weeks.
“We will see how long it is in terms of adaptation but for sure he is ready to go,” Maresca told his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
“He doesn’t look 18 — he looks older which is important but in this case we need to go slowly because he is young, came from a different country.
“No rush for him. For sure he will help us now and in the future. But he is just 18.
“It is my job and it’s the club’s job to manage him in the best way, don’t put pressure on him, he is young and he needs time.”
City’s exodus has seen Bernardo Silva and John Stones also depart in the wake of Pep Guardiola ending his trophy-laden decade as manager at the Etihad.
A move for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, who previously worked under Maresca at Stamford Bridge, is expected before the end of next week’s transfer window.
And Maresca is keen to add more experience to his squad in the coming days.
“We have experienced players for sure. We have leaders,” added the Italian.
“Now we need to wait four or five more days to see if we can add one or two more captains to Ruben [Dias] and Erling [Haaland] who are the captains.”
Maresca has got off to an unconvincing start to the daunting task of succeeding Guardiola.
After a 0-3 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, City needed two late goals from defenders Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol to edge past Bournemouth 2-1 on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
Jeremy Doku will miss the trip to Selhurst Park due to injury, but Elliot Anderson is fit after only suffering a cramp when his league debut for the club was cut short last weekend.
