Jamie Redknapp and Darren Bent label Phil Foden ‘the real deal’ following Manchester City hotshot’s starring role against Aston Villa as Pep Guardiola says in-form Englishman is becoming ‘a serious player’
- Jamie Redknapp and Darren Bent have lavished praise on Man City’s Phil Foden
- The 20-year-old played a starring role as City beat Aston Villa on Wednesday
- The Sky Sports duo said the England midfielder is ‘the real deal’ after City’s win
- City boss Pep Guardiola added that Foden is becoming ‘a serious player’
Jamie Redknapp and Darren Bent have insisted Phil Foden is ‘the real deal’ following his starring role against Aston Villa as Pep Guardiola said the Manchester City star is becoming ‘a serious player’.
Foden helped the Premier League leaders overcome an early deficit by scoring and playing a role in City’s second to help Guardiola’s side move a step closer to the league title.
The 20-year-old has emerged as the go-to man at City in recent weeks, with the youngster scoring in both legs against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and turning in standout performances when needed.
Jamie Redknapp and Darren Bent have both lavished praise on ‘the real deal’ Phil Foden
The Manchester City hotshot played a starring role in their come-from-behind win at Villa
And Sky Sports pundits Redknapp and Bent were unable to contain their excitement over the hotshot, with the former Liverpool midfielder saying that Foden is ‘the real deal’.
‘In Phil Foden, of course we have all done it – I have got excited about young talents before – but this kid is the real deal,’ he said following City’s 2-1 win.
‘He is amazing. For a young player to play with so much flair, aggression, everything you want from a young player. He is incredible.
‘Sometimes you worry when young kids get too much too early are they going to lose that hunger and desire? But if this kid keeps accelerating at this rate, anything is possible for him, it is frightening.’
Foden, 20, scored once, helped create the second and provoked the sending off of Matty Cash
After years of nurturing, the youngster is flourishing and showing signs of his early promise
Former Spurs and Villa striker Bent concurred with Redknapp’s judgment, claiming that Foden must be named in Gareth Southgate’s starting eleven for this summer’s European Championship.
‘He is unbelievable,’ Bent said. ‘His creative play, his touch, the goal threat that he possesses.
‘Now he is looking like the real deal and I can’t see how he doesn’t start for England at the Euros because for me he is playing that well. I can’t think of any England player who are playing better than him and he can play from the middle or operate on the left so I would start him.’
City boss Guardiola has carefully shielded Foden since taking over at the club in 2016, nurturing the youngster and providing him with a rotation role in the squad to allow him to soak up information from the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Bernardo Silva.
And the Sky Sports duo hailed the youngster following yet another standout performance
City boss Pep Guardiola also said that Foden is now developing into ‘a serious player’
But now even the Spaniard is struggling to contain his delight in Foden’s development, saying that the Englishman is becoming a ‘serious player’ under his watchful eye.
‘He is growing, this guy is growing. He is making steps forward every time,’ Guardiola said. ‘His influence in our game is massive right now. Scored a goal, provoked the two yellow cards, so aggressive without the ball.
‘He is becoming as serious player. There are guys with 19, 20 year olds that are unstoppable, but then at 29 and 30 years old are not. The players mark who they are on the pitch.
‘Phil is becoming such an important player. Against Dortmund he scored a goal, his influence in the final third is so important. Recover, recover well and think of the next one.’
Foden is a frontrunner to scoop this year’s PFA Young Player of the Year award, having scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in all competitions. He is expected to rival Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Wolves’ Pedro Neto for the prize.