Manchester City are determined to nurture more academy talents like Phil Foden, and the club has a clear strategy in place to make it happen.
Phil Fodenโs rise from Cityโs academy to becoming one of the Premier Leagueโs best players was foreseen early on. Even as a youngster, his dazzling ability to weave through defenses caught the eye of everyone around him.
Though his potential was carefully guarded, Cityโs sporting director Txiki Begiristain made sure that Pep Guardiola knew all about the Stockport-born star when he arrived at the club in 2016. At the time, Foden was just 16, and Guardiola promised that he wouldnโt have to wait long for his first-team debut.
Soon after, Foden made his breakthrough, and his accomplishments since have cemented him as one of the academyโs greatest success stories.
His journey has become a beacon of inspiration for young players hoping to follow in his footsteps. However, Fodenโs path to stardom wasnโt without its bumpsโhis first opportunity to impress Guardiola didnโt go quite as expect
ed.