Phil Foden remains a talking point amid what’s panning out to be a pretty disastrous 2024/25 so far for the Manchester City man, on both the club and international stage.
Just a year ago we were talking about Phil Foden as one of the best players in the Premier League, maybe even in the world.
The 24-year-old already has six Premier League titles to his name, and last season was his crowning glory, winning both the Premier League and Man City’s Player of the Season award.
He scored an incredible 19 goals in the Premier League, assisting eight more, with 27 goals and 13 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side last time round.
But Foden has just 10 goals and six assists in 38 games in all competitions this season. The 24-year-old has faced criticism from many but was named on Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this March international break, much to the surprise of England fans.
Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Darren Bent slams Phil Foden over England vs Albania performance
Foden started the game against Albania and then came off the bench late on against Latvia. Tuchel won both games, 2-0 and 3-0 respectively, making for a steady start to life in the Three Lions dugout. But talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent was less than impressed with Foden’s performances.
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Bent said of Foden’s performance against Albania: “Phil Foden again, on that right hand side, I hear so many people making so many excuses for him, that ‘His best position’s not on the left’, ‘He’s a no.10 or better off the right hand side’… He just looked like he had no confidence. Every single time he got the ball he passed it back. Never really tried to take the full-back on.”
Bent then suggested that Foden can’t make it work with England because he’s only ever played under Guardiola at City. Interestingly, the former Spurs hitman said: “I’ve said this before, he’s been under Pep’s guidance his whole career. All he knows is Pep. All he knows is that system. So when he comes to England, it just doesn’t cross over. The same Phil Foden you see for Manchester City, he doesn’t play that way for England.”
Does Phil Foden have to leave Manchester City to become a global superstar?
For Foden to re-enter into talk of a future Ballon d’Or, or to eventually come into conversation for bragging rights of one of the game’s best ever players, he’ll have to provide on the international stage.
And quite simply, he’s never done that. Foden has scored just four goals in 44 games for the Three Lions, though it’s often been difficult for managers to leave him out the side given his clear ability when playing under Guardiola at City.
It’s reported that Foden has had a physical problem throughout this season which has hampered his performances. A break this summer could be all he needs to get back to his best, but in a few years, there might be no Pep at the Etihad, and then Foden might be in an even more difficult place.
At 24 years old and having had some good success with City, it might be time for Foden to think about his future at the club. Pep would surely be reluctant to lose one of his star players but with City heading into something of a transitional period, it could be time for a clearout not only of the old, but of the out of form too.
Don’t be surprised if Foden comes into rumours of a possible City exit this summer.