According to a report by GOAL on Monday, November 2, 2026, Egyptian football legend Mohamed Aboutrika has criticised Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca over his handling of young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi following the club's disappointing 1-0 Premier League defeat to Brighton.

Aboutrika questioned Maresca's decision to deploy the 19-year-old Moroccan international in an advanced midfield position, arguing that the youngster would perform better if allowed to operate in his natural defensive midfield role.

Bouaddi struggled to make a significant impact during Saturday's encounter at the Etihad Stadium and was substituted after 55 minutes. The match represented his fifth start of the season across all competitions, but his performance raised further questions about his suitability for the role assigned to him.

Speaking as a football analyst on beIN Sports MENA, the former Egyptian international expressed disagreement with Maresca's decision to use Bouaddi as either a number eight or number 10 instead of positioning him deeper in midfield.

He said, "Playing Ayyoub Bouaddi as a number eight or number 10 is like playing Messi in goal. His position is number six. Why change his positioning?"

Aboutrika, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt in 2006 and 2008, believes the midfielder's strongest qualities become more noticeable when he plays in front of the defence.

According to the former Al Ahly star, Bouaddi possesses the ability to recover possession, distribute the ball effectively and initiate attacking moves from a deeper midfield position. He suggested that using the youngster further forward could limit his ability to influence matches through those qualities.

Bouaddi joined Manchester City last summer after attracting attention through his performances for Morocco. His transfer briefly made him the most expensive African footballer in history before Ivorian forward Yan Diomande reportedly surpassed the record following his move to Real Madrid.

Despite arriving with considerable expectations, the teenager is still working towards establishing himself as an important member of Maresca's squad.

He has made nine appearances across all competitions this season, providing two assists, although he is yet to become a consistent influential figure in the team.

Manchester City will now turn their attention to their upcoming Champions League fixture against German side RB Leipzig as they seek to recover from the Brighton defeat.

Maresca's decision regarding Bouaddi's position and potential involvement in the starting lineup is expected to attract attention ahead of the European encounter, particularly following Aboutrika's public criticism of his tactical approach.