Manchester City supporters have welcomed the latest development in the club’s pursuit of Ayyoub Bouaddi, but the reaction to the reported transfer has revealed plenty of frustration as well as excitement.
According to the latest report from Goal, Manchester City are now set to complete a deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi following Rodri’s move to Barcelona. The report claims City have already reached an agreement on personal terms with the highly rated midfielder, while the player is expected to join this summer rather than wait until 2027.
That news prompted an immediate reaction from City supporters after City Xtra shared the update on X.
For some fans, Bouaddi represents the beginning of Manchester City’s next midfield era.
For others, the transfer is simply taking too long.
And there is a third group asking the biggest question of all: Can Ayyoub Bouaddi really replace Rodri?
“Get it done already” – City fans demand action
The most obvious theme from the reactions was impatience.
Danny summed up the feeling with a short but emphatic message:
“Get it done already”
That comment attracted significant attention, reflecting the growing frustration among supporters who have been hearing about Bouaddi for weeks.
MT was even more direct:
“When tf is he gonna join ??????????”
Meanwhile, Zacks De Riyard pleaded:
“SAY DONE DEAL PLEASEEEEE”
These reactions are understandable.
Manchester City supporters have spent much of the summer waiting for clarity around the midfield following Rodri’s departure. With the club entering a new era under Enzo Maresca, fans want the squad settled as quickly as possible.
The latest report suggesting Bouaddi will arrive this summer rather than in 2027 therefore represents an important development.
However, supporters clearly want the paperwork completed before celebrating.
“They’ve been closing it for weeks”
Not everyone was impressed by the latest update.
M. SANÉ pointed out:
“They’ve been closing it for weeks”
Another supporter, haaIandsaga, simply said:
“Same news as last week”
THE GYPSY KING took a similar view, describing it as:
“Same old shite reposted as always”
This frustration is significant because Manchester City fans have heard repeated reports about Bouaddi without an official confirmation.
The latest information is more encouraging, though.
The key difference is that Goal reports an agreement on personal terms has already been reached. That suggests the transfer is considerably further along than a simple expression of interest.
For supporters, that should provide some reassurance.
Still, the message from the fanbase is unmistakable: finish the deal.
Is Bouaddi really Rodri’s replacement?
One of the most interesting questions raised by the reactions concerns Bouaddi’s role.
Dannyisdwun asked:
“lmaooo so he’s rodris replacement?”
That is perhaps the biggest issue surrounding the transfer.
Rodri has been one of the most influential midfielders in Manchester City’s modern history. Replacing him is not a straightforward task.
Bouaddi is a young midfielder with considerable potential, but expecting him to immediately reproduce Rodri’s influence would be unrealistic.
The role of a defensive midfielder requires experience, positional discipline, tactical awareness and an ability to handle pressure.
Bouaddi may eventually develop into an elite player.
But City need to be careful about placing the entire responsibility for replacing Rodri on a young signing.
That may explain why another supporter, Raaska-jr, wrote:
“We need another Mid like Enzo”
The comment appears to underline a wider concern: Manchester City may need more than one midfield addition.
Fans are calling for another midfielder
The repeated references to Enzo are particularly interesting.
Another supporter, AGENT 47, simply posted:
“Enzo?”
And AT #SurvivedChalobah was much more emphatic:
“ENZOOOOOOOOO NEXT”
This suggests that sections of the Manchester City fanbase do not see Bouaddi as the complete answer to the midfield rebuild.
With Rodri gone, supporters want additional quality in the middle of the pitch.
Bouaddi could be viewed as an important part of the rebuild rather than the entire solution.
That distinction could prove crucial.
The new Manchester City manager, Enzo Maresca, has inherited a squad undergoing significant change. Unlike Pep Guardiola, who spent years building his team around particular principles and players, Maresca must establish his own identity.
The arrival of a technically gifted young midfielder could therefore be an important step.
But the expectation is that more business will follow.
“What does this Bouaddi guy even solve?”
Not every supporter is convinced.
Shegzzz delivered perhaps the harshest criticism of the transfer:
“Lmao What does this bouqddi guy even solve? Another shining little toy to keep the fans happy”
It is a blunt assessment, but it reflects a genuine concern.
Manchester City are not simply trying to sign promising young players.
They are attempting to remain competitive after losing a player as important as Rodri.
That means recruitment must address immediate needs as well as future potential.
Bouaddi’s age makes him an exciting investment, but City supporters will want to see established quality alongside him.
If the club signs Bouaddi and another proven midfielder, the reaction could be very different.
If Bouaddi is expected to carry the midfield rebuild alone, questions will remain.
Some fans are already writing him off
Xenon offered another sceptical response:
“The guy is average”
It is difficult to draw a meaningful conclusion from that reaction, particularly because Bouaddi is still at the beginning of his career.
Young players can develop dramatically.
Manchester City have also demonstrated a willingness to invest in talented players before they reach their peak. The club’s recruitment strategy has increasingly included young players who can develop into long-term stars.
Bouaddi fits that model.
The challenge is ensuring the player is given the right environment to develop.
Under Maresca, he could have an opportunity to grow within a structured possession-based system.
However, supporters will understandably judge him against the enormous standard established by Rodri.
That comparison could be unfair.
“Bye bye Nico G”
Another notable reaction came from ZafeirZ:
“Bye bye nico g”
That comment appears to reflect the growing competition for midfield places.
With Bouaddi potentially arriving, the midfield hierarchy could change significantly.
Manchester City have several players capable of operating centrally, and Maresca now has the opportunity to decide which profiles best suit his tactical approach.
That could mean opportunities for some players and reduced roles for others.
It also highlights the scale of the transition taking place at the Etihad.
This is not simply about replacing one player.
It is about reshaping the midfield for a new manager.
Maresca’s call for urgency has clearly affected fans
Perhaps the most revealing reaction came from Cyrus.
He wrote:
“Maresca calls for urgency now magically deals are being done We actually wasted 1 month and a half of a summer window doing nothing”
That comment captures a growing frustration among supporters.
Whether the club actually wasted six weeks is a matter of opinion, but fans clearly believe Manchester City should have acted sooner.
The arrival of a new manager creates urgency.
Maresca needs time to implement his ideas. New signings need time to adapt. Pre-season preparation is important.
The earlier players arrive, the more time the coaching staff have to integrate them.
Bouaddi joining this summer rather than 2027 is therefore potentially significant.
It gives Maresca an opportunity to work with the player immediately.
“Let it be quick”
Saul Wa Iryn offered a simple message:
“Let it be quick”
That may be the perfect summary of the entire reaction.
City supporters are not necessarily against Bouaddi.
In fact, many appear excited about his potential.
They simply want the club to stop talking about the transfer and complete it.
The repeated references to the deal being “close” have clearly tested supporters’ patience.
An official announcement would finally bring clarity.
What Bouaddi’s arrival could mean for Manchester City
If the deal is completed as expected, Bouaddi could become one of the first major pieces of Manchester City’s post-Rodri midfield.
The Moroccan midfielder would arrive with significant expectations, but those expectations must be managed carefully.
He does not need to be Rodri immediately.
He needs to become Bouaddi.
Maresca’s task will be to develop his strengths while giving him enough protection and experience around him.
That could mean pairing him with a more established midfielder, allowing Bouaddi to gradually assume greater responsibility.
The supporters demanding another midfield signing may therefore have a point.
Manchester City need depth, experience and potential.
Bouaddi can provide the potential.
The club may still need to find the other pieces.
City fans want the deal finished — and more signings
The reaction to the Ayyoub Bouaddi transfer is ultimately a mixture of excitement, impatience and scepticism.
Some supporters are saying:
“Get it done already”
Others are demanding:
“ENZOOOOOOOOO NEXT”
And some remain unconvinced about what Bouaddi can actually bring.
But the biggest takeaway is that Manchester City fans want action.
Rodri has left for Barcelona, and the midfield now needs rebuilding.
Bouaddi could be an important part of that process. However, supporters clearly do not want the club to stop there.
For Maresca, this is about building an entirely new Manchester City.
The reported agreement with Bouaddi is a promising start.
Now City need to make it official.
