Your Route to Real News

Rio Ferdinand compares Phil Foden to £28m Man Utd flop after England no-show

19 June 2024 , 06:59
1384     0
Phil Foden struggled to make an impact for England on the left wing (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Phil Foden struggled to make an impact for England on the left wing (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Phil Foden failed to make much of an impact in England's Euro 2024 opener and Rio Ferdinand has compared his struggles to that of Juan Sebastian Veron at Manchester United.

With Jude Bellingham playing in Foden's preferred No.10 role, the Manchester City star was given a chance out wide on the left. However, he was unable to have the same influence on the game as he does for City, with Bellingham ultimately scoring the winner as England beat Serbia 1-0.

And former Spain star Cesc Fabregas, who won the Euros twice in 2008 and 2012, suggested after the game that Foden needs "impose himself" on the game more like Bellingham did. Ferdinand agrees with Fabregas' assessment, claiming Foden is in a similar situation to Veron who was a "ridiculous player" but struggled at United because Roy Keane was "much more dominant".

Speaking on his FIVE podcast," Ferdinand said: "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.

"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.

World Cup hero wants Man Utd move as doubts over Harry Maguire's future grow qhiddeidzuiqxtprwWorld Cup hero wants Man Utd move as doubts over Harry Maguire's future grow

"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…

Rio Ferdinand compares Phil Foden to £28m Man Utd flop after England no-showRio Ferdinand has compared Foden to Juan Sebastian Veron (Daily Mirror)

"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."

Matthew Cooper

Print page

Comments:

comments powered by Disqus