PHIL GOOD FACTOR
City aim to tie hotshot down with €78m deal WEST HAM v MAN CITY
PHIL Foden is living proof that some things are worth the wait.
Not too long ago Foden had to show the patience of a saint as he battled to earn himself a starting place in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.
Between 2017 and 2019 Foden started just 14 games and some questioned why the most gifted young player of a generation was used so sparingly, while others suggested he should go out on loan to get first team experience.
Elevate
But Guardiola knew how training with some of the greatest stars on the planet would elevate Foden to a whole new level — and what happened last season proved the Spaniard right.
Last season Foden started 36 matches, including the title showdown with Liverpool in April, both Champions League semis against Real Madrid and the final league game of the season at home to Aston Villa.
In the last 18 months he has gone from being on the outside looking in to the main stage of a footballing festival that continues to see City rock when it comes to domestic success.
And if you want to know how much the English champions value Foden, the club has just offered him a deal worth almost €78m over six years.
Foden has hit the jackpot, but then again so has Guardiola should someone who only turned 22 in May continue his meteoric rise to success and superstardom.
Foden’s breakthrough season is one of the reasons Raheem Sterling wanted to leave the Etihad and Guardiola was prepared to let him go.
Guardiola believes Foden’s two biggest assets are his temperament and versatility.
He is not fazed by where he is asked to play, comfortable anywhere across an attacking front three or in the No 10 role.
Obstacle
Jack Grealish might want to look away now, because Foden promises to be one heck of an obstacle in his path when it comes to game time, not least because Erling Haaland will take the lead striking role this coming season. Throw into the mix the options of Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Kevin De
Bruyne and it could well be another campaign of frustration for Grealish.
But of all the stars on show at the Etihad, it is Foden who is expected to shine the brightest this season as he looks to cement his status as one of the great players.
And one of the main beneficiaries will be England boss Gareth Southgate.
Had Foden not been injured last summer he would have started the delayed Euro 2020 final against Italy.
He will be named in Southgate’s World Cup squad and, barring injury, is expected to be in the team for the opening group game against Iran on November 21.
Feet
When it comes to club and country, Foden, quite literally, has the world at his very talented feet.