Manchester City Scouts Eye Moroccan Talent
According to recent reports, talent scouts from Manchester City have expressed interest in one of the emerging names in Moroccan football. This interest comes at a time when City is actively working to secure the finest talents worldwide before their market value skyrockets, a strategy increasingly guided by the club's new football director, Hugo Viana.
City has seemingly intensified its efforts within the Belgian Pro League, focusing on Ilian Hadidi, a versatile midfielder capable of playing both as a deep-lying playmaker and in a more advanced role. Hadidi is considered to align well with the technical profile needed for Pep Guardiola's tactical system, making him a prime candidate for the Premier League giants.
The 17-year-old appears to be at a pivotal point in his career as his current club, Standard Liège, desperately seeks to secure him with a professional contract extension and a pathway to first-team football. However, the allure of the UEFA Champions League and the prestige of the Premier League may prove too enticing for Hadidi, especially as Manchester City's interest is attracting attention from several other prominent names in European football.
Scouts in attendance have indicated that City is now among eight European clubs keen on the Standard Liège and Moroccan midfielder. Ilian Hadidi is expected to be closely monitored during the upcoming U17 Africa Cup, further raising his profile. Alongside City, clubs such as Borussia Dortmund from Germany, Lille and AS Monaco from France, and PSV, Ajax, and Feyenoord from the Netherlands, as well as Belgian club Brugge, are also showing interest in the talented teenager.
While the club is currently striving for a historic second domestic treble, competing for the top spot in the Premier League and preparing for an FA Cup final against Chelsea, efforts behind the scenes are focused on ensuring that the next generation is ready to step up. Hadidi's standout performance, earning him the "Man of the Match" title in a 3-0 victory against Algeria during the UNAF tournament earlier this spring, has already propelled him to the top of many scouting lists across the continent.
If Manchester City secures his signature, Hadidi is likely to be integrated into the Elite Development Squad (EDS) or possibly loaned to a partner club within the City Football Group (CFG) to gain professional experience, potentially at Girona or Lommel.
As reported by onefootball.com.
