Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has slammed Gabby Agbonlahor over a brutal attack he launched on an “incredibly bad” England player on Thursday afternoon. While FA Cup action looms this Easter weekend, the dust has yet to fully settle on what was a largely forgettable international break for Thomas Tuchel's side.
Under the German manager's previously spotless supervision, the Three Lions began their final preparations for the 2026 World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Uruguay, where an experimental side delivered an error-filled audition in a bid to stake a claim for the final 26-man squad set to be named in June. Just days later, England then lost their first-ever home game against an Asian side, falling to a 1-0 defeat to Japan.
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In the wake of those poor performances, Agbonlahor unleashed a scathing critique of one particular player, labelling him as looking like a “training ground player.” Ferdinand has now hit back at those comments during an exchange on social media, as the punditry duo clashed over the status of one of Tuchel’s highest-rated players.
Rio Ferdinand Hits Back After Agbonlahor's Brutal Critique of Phil Foden
Thomas Tuchel and Phil Foden
Agbonlahor pulled no punches in his assessment of Phil Foden, who failed to inspire his teammates in two auditions this week as he aimed to prove he can fit into a squad already boasting several other star players. During a heated TalkSPORT segment, the former Aston Villa forward said:
"His fall for Manchester City has been incredibly bad. He came on in the 90th minute of the cup final against Arsenal, got zero minutes in both games against Real Madrid, and in his last 11 games, he's only played 183 minutes of 990 available.
"Zero goals this year (we're already in April), and for his country, he's not performed. He's only got four goals in 49 England caps. He should be in his peak now at 25. He's never done it in an England shirt."
He concluded his brutal critique by claiming that Thomas Tuchel gave Foden the nod in the latest squad selection because he "likes Foden’s career", that he never deserved a call-up in the first place, and that he currently looks like a “training ground” player. In response, Ferdinand retweeted the video with a few words of his own (see the full post below):
"Gabby, he’s won six Premier League titles at 25 years old, [and] got 10 goals and assists in the Premier League this season (same as Saka, Watkins)."
The retired United legend’s comments were met with a mixed bag of reactions from onlookers, with some siding with Agbonlahor following Foden’s futile week, while others pointed to his potential and importance when at his best.
Tuchel has Big Decisions to make about Foden
Thomas Tuchel
There are still plenty of questions surrounding Phil Foden’s England future. Out of all the big-name stars, he now seems the most likely to drop out of the squad entirely after a second lethargic performance in a row. But it may not be entirely his fault, especially after Thomas Tuchel appeared to go back on his word about prioritising impact over reputation, instead shoehorning his star player into a role he never plays for Manchester City.
Labelled a “gimmick” by some online, many were surprised to see Foden used as a centre-forward, particularly after he had settled into a deeper midfield role under Pep Guardiola this season. It’s those performances in midfield that earned him a recall to the England squad, but Tuchel’s latest experiment could, ironically, be the reason he loses his place on the plane.
What’s more, just because Foden is typically used in midfield doesn’t mean others should lose their place. Morgan Rogers deserves to remain in an attacking midfield role rather than being pushed out wide, while Jude Bellingham is the natural first-choice option there when the Real Madrid star is fully fit. Previous “golden generations” struggled for similar reasons, with managers trying to fit too many high-profile names into the same lineup.