Manchester City fans have made their feelings clear after Enzo Maresca delivered a glowing assessment of Ayyoub Bouaddi following the impressive Champions League victory over FC Porto.
The young midfielder was one of the biggest talking points after Manchester City secured a 2-0 win at the Estádio do Dragão. While Erling Haaland grabbed the headlines with two goals, Bouaddi’s performance generated huge excitement among supporters.
Maresca was particularly impressed.
Asked about the midfielder’s display, the Manchester City head coach responded with an emphatic verdict:
“Oh my god! He was never in panic, he was very good!”
Maresca then took his praise even further, describing Bouaddi’s performance as “unbelievable.”
Enzo Maresca on @BouaddiAyyoub: “Oh my god! He was never in panic, he was very good! The performance from him was unbelievable!” [via @primevideosport]
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 8, 2026
Those comments quickly sparked a strong reaction from Manchester City supporters.
Many fans believe the teenager has already demonstrated the composure, technical ability and mentality required to become an important player at the club.
“Proper baller” – Manchester City fans react to Bouaddi
One of the clearest reactions came from a supporter who simply described Bouaddi as a:
“Proper baller.”
It may be a short comment, but it perfectly captures the excitement surrounding the midfielder.
Bouaddi did not appear overwhelmed by the occasion.
Playing in a difficult Champions League environment against Porto, he showed the kind of calmness that immediately caught the attention of both Maresca and Manchester City supporters.
For a young player making his full debut, that composure was particularly impressive.
There were no signs that Bouaddi was simply trying to avoid mistakes. Instead, he looked willing to receive the ball, move it forward and contribute to City’s control of the game.
That is exactly what Maresca noticed.
“He was never in panic”
Maresca’s most revealing comment may have been his statement that Bouaddi “was never in panic.”
That quality is incredibly important for a Manchester City midfielder.
City regularly dominate possession, but opponents can still create moments of intense pressure. Midfielders must therefore remain calm when surrounded by opposition players.
Bouaddi appeared capable of doing that.
Rather than rushing his decisions, he showed confidence in his ability.
That composure has now become one of the main reasons supporters are excited about his future.
One fan wrote:
“He is good and will get better in time.”
That reaction reflects a sensible view of Bouaddi’s development.
The teenager does not need to be the finished product immediately. What matters is that the foundations are already there.
“Future Rodri incoming”
Perhaps the biggest compliment from supporters came from KEZA.
The fan wrote:
“future rodri incoming boy plyas the ball with so much ease no pressure”
Comparisons with Rodri naturally bring enormous expectations.
The former Manchester City midfielder established himself as one of the greatest players in the club’s history, so it would be unfair to expect Bouaddi to immediately reach those levels.
However, the comparison reveals what supporters are seeing.
They are noticing a young midfielder who looks comfortable under pressure and plays with remarkable ease.
That is a hugely encouraging sign.
Bouaddi still has a long journey ahead, but his ability to remain composed has already made supporters believe that Manchester City may have discovered another special midfielder.
“He will only get better”
Another supporter offered perhaps the most important prediction:
“He will only get better.”
That is the exciting part of Bouaddi’s situation.
The performance against Porto was not supposed to represent his ceiling.
It was the beginning.
At his age, there is considerable room for improvement. More matches will bring more experience. More training alongside Manchester City’s established stars will help him understand the demands of elite football.
And working under Maresca could also prove important.
The new Manchester City head coach clearly values midfield intelligence, technical quality and players who can remain composed while operating in tight spaces.
Bouaddi appears to possess several of those qualities already.
“What a full debut”
Another supporter highlighted exactly why Bouaddi has generated so much attention.
Cashnet described it as:
“What a full debut.”
The fan also praised Bouaddi for being “calm, composed and brave in midfield”, adding that he “didn’t look out of place at all.”
That final point is crucial.
Manchester City supporters have seen plenty of talented young players over the years, but the step from youth football to Champions League football is enormous.
Bouaddi managed to make the transition look natural.
He did not appear intimidated by the occasion.
He did not look overwhelmed by the quality around him.
Instead, he looked like a player who believed he belonged.
That confidence is one of the strongest reasons why supporters are already demanding more opportunities for him.
Fans believe Bouaddi has a bright future
Fidi¹²⁴⁴ summed up the mood with:
“He will only get better.”
Another fan said:
“He is good and will get better in time.”
These reactions show that supporters are not simply celebrating one good performance.
They are thinking about what Bouaddi could become.
That distinction matters.
A single impressive match can create excitement, but sustained development is what turns potential into a successful career.
For now, however, everything is pointing in a positive direction.
Maresca has publicly praised him.
His teammates appear comfortable playing alongside him.
And supporters are already beginning to see him as part of Manchester City’s future.
Maresca’s praise makes the performance even more significant
Bouaddi’s performance would have been encouraging even without Maresca’s comments.
However, hearing the head coach describe it as “unbelievable” has added another dimension.
Managers see things supporters cannot always see from the stands or television.
Maresca will have watched Bouaddi’s positioning, decision-making, reactions after losing possession and movement without the ball.
His praise therefore suggests that Bouaddi did more than simply produce a few impressive touches.
He followed the tactical instructions.
He remained disciplined.
Most importantly, he maintained his composure.
For a young midfielder playing his first major match, that is a significant achievement.
“Fr…. unbelievable”
SM!TH summed up the reaction with:
“Fr…. unbelievable 😍😋”
The excitement is understandable.
Manchester City have entered a new era under Maresca, and supporters are eager to see which young players can establish themselves in the squad.
Bouaddi’s emergence could be particularly important.
A club competing for major trophies needs experienced stars, but it also needs young players capable of developing into first-team regulars.
If Bouaddi continues progressing, he could become one of those players.
“He didn’t look out of place”
The phrase used by Cashnet deserves further attention.
Bouaddi “didn’t look out of place at all.”
That is perhaps the biggest compliment a young player can receive after making his full debut in the Champions League.
There is a difference between playing well and looking comfortable at the level.
Bouaddi appears to have done both.
He showed confidence without appearing reckless.
He played with ambition without losing control.
And he handled the pressure without allowing the occasion to affect his decision-making.
Those are qualities that could serve him extremely well as his Manchester City career develops.
Manchester City fans have found another reason to be excited
The Porto victory gave Manchester City supporters plenty to celebrate.
Haaland scored twice.
City secured an important away victory.
But Bouaddi’s emergence may prove to be one of the most encouraging stories from the night.
The reactions from supporters make that clear.
“Proper baller.”
“Future Rodri incoming.”
“He will only get better.”
“What a full debut.”
Those comments show the belief already developing around the youngster.
There is, of course, no need to rush him.
Bouaddi is still learning, and the demands of playing regularly for Manchester City will be significantly greater than producing one outstanding performance.
But the early signs are extremely promising.
Maresca has seen enough to call his performance “unbelievable.”
Manchester City fans have seen enough to start dreaming about what could come next.
And perhaps most importantly, Bouaddi himself has shown that he is not afraid of the biggest stage.
If he continues to develop with the same calmness and confidence, supporters may look back on the Porto match as the night a very exciting Manchester City career truly began.
