England star Phil Foden’s struggles at Euro 2024 have been likened to that endured by a ‘fantastically talented’ Manchester United flop by Rio Ferdinand.
Arguably the best player in the Premier League last season, Foden has so far failed to replicate his Manchester City form at the Euros.
The attacking midfielder looked out of sorts in the Three Lions’ 1-0 win over Serbia last Sunday, struggling to play alongside fellow attacking midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Some have suggested that this is down to Gareth Southgate playing him on the left-wing rather than his preferred No.10 position, but others have dismissed this complaint, with Cesc Fabregas arguing that the 23-year-old simply didn’t show enough fight in the match.
Ferdinand agrees with this assessment and compared Foden’s predicament to that of a former United teammate who excelled throughout his career but not at Old Trafford.
‘Me, Micah [Richards] and Cesc done that game [for BBC] the other day and Micah was saying how he felt sorry for Phil that and about how Southgate’s not getting the best out of him,’ the former England defender said on the FIVE podcast.
‘And then to be fair Cesc just put him away, just said, “listen, no, no, no, it’s down to Foden”. Foden’s got to go out there and you’re talking about body language, being demanding and authoritative with the way that you want the ball.
‘Jude has got that in spades and I think if we’re going to see the best out of Phil Foden, and I agree with Cesc, he’s got to really go out there and try and dominate the pitch and dominate some of his teammates to give him the ball and be the first one to shout.
‘But I’ve seen this before at Man United. We had Roy Keane who demanded the ball in the middle of the pitch. We signed a superstar in Juan Sebastian Veron.
‘Ridiculous player, the streets will never forget this guy, that bandage under the knee… He was a playmaker that wanted to get the ball off all of the players and that’s how he got his rhythm and play.
‘But Roy Keane dominated because he was more animated, the characteristics that he had came out and was much more dominant. He was there before and dominated that area.
‘And Sebastian Veron folded really and had to be sold and didn’t really become a success at Man United. But he was a fantastically talented player and I hope Phil doesn’t fall like that.’
Foden’s poor performance against Serbia has raised questions over whether Southgate could drop him for the next game against Denmark on Thursday evening but at this stage that seems unlikely.
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