Before the current Premier League season began, Jamie Carragher questioned how Phil Foden fits into Pep Guardiola’s plans for Manchester City.
Foden has long been regarded as one of the best English players of the modern era, but because City frequently changes its starting lineup, he has found it difficult to accrue regular playing time.
Since breaking into the City’s first squad six years ago, the 23-year-old has already won five Premier League championships, a Champions League, two FA Cups, and four League Cups.
Carragher is dubious of the England star’s role at City, though, given that he only started 22 English top-flight games last season and was a substitute in Sunday’s Community Shield loss to Arsenal.
Phil Foden is no longer young,’ Carragher stated on The Overlap. He was predicted to be the finest English player three or four years ago.
It almost seems as though Jude Bellingham has evolved into that player, the cornerstone of this England squad. Foden struggles to break into both the England and Manchester City teams.
Even though Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan have departed and are competing in the Community Shield one week before the start of the regular season, he is still unable to crack the starting lineup.
“We all know how talented he is; what’s holding him back?” Foden could play in that position, but Pep chose to play Alvarez behind Haaland instead.
Foden is extremely talented and has frequently displayed it on the biggest stage. Last season, he scored a hat-trick against City’s bitter rivals Manchester United and made significant contributions to City’s Champions League victory.
However, as Carragher himself noted while examining Foden’s record, he appears to be having a restricted number of starting opportunities.
Last season, the attacker and the record-breaking goal scorer Erling Haaland had a great working connection, and there was optimism that the young team would continue to grow before an injury derailed Foden’s season.
With four years remaining on his current contract at Manchester City, the England international would probably need a big transfer fee to leave for another team.