At 19, Ayyoub Bouaddi is regarded as the biggest hope in Moroccan football and has revealed that Andres Iniesta was the player who inspired him most as a child.

The Manchester City midfielder said he spent hours watching clips of the former Spain and FC Barcelona star, even though he had not seen much of Iniesta’s career live.

Asked in an interview with his club which players he admired growing up, Bouaddi quickly named the former world champion, answering in fluent English.

“Andres Iniesta. He is the player I watched the most,” said the Morocco international.

Bouaddi then explained how he discovered Iniesta’s ability through the internet rather than regular live viewing.

“I didn’t see him play much, but what I saw was incredible. I grew up in the generation of YouTube compilations. Every day, when I was young, I would type ‘Iniesta skills’ into YouTube.”

The midfielder’s answer highlighted the age gap between the two players. When Iniesta left FC Barcelona in 2018, Bouaddi was only 11.

His main experience of the 2010 World Cup winner therefore came through online compilations showcasing his close control, dribbling, vision and decisive goals.

Bouaddi was also asked whether he had watched compilations of his own performances. Appearing embarrassed by the question, he admitted that he had seen a few, but did not elaborate.

The choice of Iniesta is understandable given some of the qualities Bouaddi has displayed during his own development. Although the two players differ in stature and do not have identical styles, they share several characteristics.

Like his celebrated Spanish role model, Bouaddi is distinguished more by his understanding of the game, technical ability and effectiveness in tight spaces than by physical attributes alone.

The Morocco international has made a promising start to the season and has been praised by his manager after his appearances in the Champions League. He is continuing his development at Manchester City after making his name with LOSC.

Bouaddi has already attracted attention with the Lions of the Atlas, particularly during the 2026 World Cup, and is viewed as part of the future of Morocco’s midfield.

There is still a considerable distance between the young international and the level reached by his idol. However, Bouaddi appears to have taken one important lesson from Iniesta: in midfield, technique and intelligence can make the decisive difference.