Mansion Sports – Paris Saint-Germain have ended their pursuit of Lille's 18-year-old sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi, cooling their interest in the highly sought-after midfielder.

The French champions have chosen to maximize the players already within their squad, effectively opening the door for La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona to lead the race for Europe's most promising young Moroccan star.

PSG Cool Their Interest to Protect Internal Talent

PSG decided to significantly withdraw from the race to sign LOSC Lille's jewel, Bouaddi, during the summer transfer window.

Although they had previously conducted a series of preliminary inquiries regarding the player's availability in the transfer market earlier in the season, the club's leadership ultimately established a change in strategy by shifting their focus away from the dynamic midfielder.

According to L'Equipe, the Paris giants decided that they would not prioritize adding a new central midfielder to Luis Enrique's squad.

The reason for ending the process of signing Bouaddi was the shared desire to provide a clear development pathway for the young players already at the club.

Following the contract extensions of Senny Mayulu, Fabián Ruiz, and Lucas Beraldo, along with Désiré Doué's increasingly important role within the team's structure, the club believes it already possesses sufficient strength in midfield.

Spanish Giants Remain in the Race

Although PSG have withdrawn, the race to secure Bouaddi's signature is far from over.

The 18-year-old remains one of the most sought-after talents of his generation, and his performances at the World Cup attracted the attention of Europe's elite clubs. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona continue to be linked with the midfielder.

So far, no official offer has been submitted by either of the Spanish giants, but PSG's withdrawal from the race has made the situation much simpler.

With the French competitor no longer involved, the path is now more open for Madrid or Barcelona to make their move if they decide to accelerate negotiations.

The young French player is regarded as a long-term strategic asset, and many scouts believe that he is already prepared to take the next step into Europe's elite football environment in the near future.

Historic Record Confirms His Enormous Potential

After progressing rapidly through Lille's academy, Bouaddi became the youngest player in Ligue 1 history to reach 50 league appearances, surpassing the previous age record held by former Lille star Eden Hazard.

His maturity became even more evident during Morocco's run to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

Bouaddi appeared in five matches throughout the tournament and made history as the second-youngest player ever to start a World Cup quarter-final, behind only Pelé.

Lille Continue to Hold a Strong Negotiating Position

Amid intense transfer speculation, Lille President Olivier Létang continues to hold a very strong position in the negotiation process.

After securing the player's long-term future through a contract extension until June 2029, the club is under no financial pressure whatsoever to agree to a cut-price sale in the near future.