‘ ENGLAND PAIR MUST LEARN’

PHIL FODEN and Mason Greenwood must use their England humiliation to become better players, says Dimitar Berbatov.

Ex-bulgaria, Tottenham and Manchester United striker Berbatov insists the two youngsters (left) have been punished enough for breaking Covid-19 protocols by inviting women to their Reykjavik hotel room last weekend.

Gareth Southgate sent the pair home just 24 hours after handing them their first caps – and further action has not been ruled out by the FA.

But Berbatov, who was 18 when he made his international debut, said: “Foden and Greenwood must learn from this experience and become better players. Let’s not forget that we’ve all been there. Everyone at that age wants to party and have fun. When you are a professional footballer then you have to understand when and where to do it.

“They have both apologised. Now they take their punishment, move on and make sure they don’t make the same mistake again. These guys are part of the future of United, City and England.”

Antics

Berbatov added: “I don’t think people should be too harsh.

“Punish them for sure – like Southgate has done – but then let them learn. I laugh when I remember the antics of past generations of England players.

“Maybe what they did was not so bad.” Manchester City midfielder Foden, 20, and 18-year-old Manchester United striker Greenwood were both lambasted by their clubs for misbehaving. Berbatov said: “I am sure that Pep Guardiola and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will speak to them and remind them of what they have to do.

“Is there two better clubs to be at to learn how to be top players?

“I liked to have a good time myself, but you learn the right time to do it.

“Yes, I saw my friends going out to bars and nightclubs, but I never even thought about going with them.

“I sacrificed absolutely nothing. There is no decision to be made between going out to a disco for two or three hours or playing football.

“I could see the bigger picture even when I was a teenager.

“I knew I would have plenty of time to go out, but that the most important thing was having a successful playing career.”