Ayyoub Bouaddi's first competitive start for Manchester City ended with a 2-0 win at Porto and a stack of praise from his manager and teammates.
The 18-year-old, signed from Lille for €95m plus €5m in add-ons, played 75 minutes in the Champions League opener against the Portuguese champions. He completed 55 passes at 98 per cent accuracy, a statistic that drew particular satisfaction from Enzo Maresca.
Maresca said Bouaddi's maturity was a key factor in the club's decision to pursue the Morocco international so aggressively. The City boss also noted how calm the teenager has appeared since arriving from Lille, where he had already played almost 100 senior games.
I think we've got a gem there, to be honest.
That was Erling Haaland's verdict after the match. The Norwegian revealed he had already told chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak how impressive Bouaddi had been in training before the trip to Portugal.
Spanish outlet AS highlighted Bouaddi as one of the major pieces in City's rebuilt midfield following his display at Porto, describing him as a new jewel at Maresca's disposal.
For a teenager making his full debut in such demanding circumstances, the numbers and the noise around him suggest City's investment may prove shrewd.