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 Foden’s rise from City’s academy to becoming one of the Premier League’s 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, City’s 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 wouldn’t 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 academy’s greatest success stories.
His journey has become a beacon of inspiration for young players hoping to follow in his footsteps. However, Foden’s path to stardom wasn’t without its bumps—his first opportunity to impress Guardiola didn’t go quite as expect
ed.