Aboutrika Slams Maresca: 'Playing Bouaddi as a No.8/No.10 Is Like Playing Messi in Goal'

Debate has intensified over the use of young Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi after Manchester City's defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Speaking on beIN Sports MENA, former Egypt great Mohamed Aboutrika launched a sharp criticism of manager Enzo Maresca, saying that playing Bouaddi away from his natural role is proving costly for the team.

To make his point, Aboutrika offered a striking analogy. He said playing Bouaddi as a No.8 or No.10 is like playing Lionel Messi in goal. The remark is spreading rapidly on social media and has fuelled the entire controversy. Messi is regarded as one of the greatest attacking players in the world, and the meaning of putting him between the posts is clear — wasting a player's greatest strength.

Match context

The match against Brighton was a disappointing one for Manchester City, and questions about the team's midfield balance began to surface after the loss. In that game, Bouaddi was substituted off in the 55th minute. Before that, he had struggled to impose himself as expected. Aboutrika believes that failing to use Bouaddi's talent in the right position is the real reason behind the poor display.

Aboutrika's argument

His case is clear: Bouaddi is naturally a No.6, a defensive midfielder. His strengths are winning the ball, accurate passing and driving forward from deep to start attacks. When he is pushed forward into a No.8 or No.10 role, those qualities are suppressed and he cannot show his best. According to Aboutrika, that is exactly why Bouaddi looked ineffective on the pitch and had to come off early.

Bouaddi's journey and expectations

Much is expected of the 19-year-old Bouaddi. He already has 10 caps for Morocco and is seen as a pillar of the national team's future. It was his talent that led a club to sign him for a large fee. Some reports even claimed he became the most expensive African footballer in history, though the exact transfer fee and dates behind that claim still need confirmation.

This season he has registered two assists in nine appearances. His talent drew widespread praise at the 2026 World Cup as well, and he became a favourite of many pundits. Morocco's performances at the Africa Cup of Nations also kept his name in the conversation. But under Maresca he has yet to reach top gear — an assessment being framed more around the team's internal balance than anything else.

The Iniesta reference and a new twist

Among Bouaddi's idols is Andres Iniesta. Iniesta was by nature an attacking midfielder who loved to carry the ball forward and create. That reference raises a question about whether it is right to view Bouaddi purely as a holding midfielder. It complicates Aboutrika's 'natural No.6' claim somewhat, because from a player who idolises Iniesta, some attacking output can also be expected. In other words, while the criticism rests on the idea that playing Bouaddi forward is wrong, the player's own inspiration suggests that advancing could also be part of his game.

The transfer record claim

The report also claimed that Bouaddi briefly held the title of Africa's most expensive footballer, comparing it to Yan Diomande's move to Real Madrid. Such claims require exact fees, dates and official confirmation. Words like 'briefly' weaken the story without a solid basis. Record transfers are sensitive subjects in football, and asserting them without sourcing can damage credibility.

What is the real basis of the debate?

One thing needs to be made clear in this whole debate. The only solid foundation in the information available so far is that Mohamed Aboutrika made a sharp comment on beIN Sports about Maresca's usage. Bouaddi's situation, the team's setup, his average position, or the real reason behind the 55th-minute change — none of these have been independently confirmed.

A 55th-minute substitution can happen for many reasons — tactical, injury-related, fitness or performance-based. That alone does not prove the player was used in the wrong position. If the match score, City's formation, Bouaddi's actual position and Maresca's post-match explanation come to light, the picture could become clearer. Without independent punditry or data analysis, it is hard to say whether Bouaddi's deployment is genuinely a problem for the team or whether it was simply a bad day.

Maresca has so far offered no clear response, nor has Bouaddi himself said anything about his preferred role. It would therefore be premature to conclude that he is being misused. The defensible assessment is that one analyst has expressed an opinion, and that opinion has sparked a major debate.

The manager's side is yet to emerge

For a balanced picture, it is necessary to know why Maresca played Bouaddi in that role. Was the decision driven by the team's current needs? Did the absence of another player force it? Is Bouaddi himself trying to adapt to a new role? Without answers to these questions, a single pundit's comment cannot be treated as a verdict on the team's tactics.

It is also worth watching what balance City's midfield is striking and what kind of football Maresca is prioritising. If the team has other defensive midfielders available and Bouaddi is being paired with them further forward, it could be a tactical experiment. Not every experiment succeeds, but before calling it 'misuse' it is important to understand the thinking behind it.

The road ahead

Manchester City's next match is against RB Leipzig. It will be interesting to see which role Maresca gives Bouaddi. If he plays him as a No.6, the impact of Aboutrika's criticism may show. If he again uses him further forward, the question of what his right place in the team actually is will only deepen. Against a strong side like Leipzig, the decision becomes even more important, because balance in midfield plays a big role.

For now, the whole affair began with a sharp comment from one analyst, and many key facts are still needed before it can be established. Aboutrika's remark has undoubtedly become the centre of discussion, but before reaching any conclusion, it would be wise to wait for the manager's side, the player's situation and hard data.