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Fans are calling for Phil Foden to be 'taken' from Pep Guardiola

Fans are calling for Phil Foden to be 'taken' from Pep Guardiola

Phil Foden is yet to nail down a regular starting spot in Pep Guardiola’s XI

Marcus Chan

Marcus Chan

Fans on social media have claimed that Manchester City star Phil Foden needs to be taken off Pep Guardiola’s hands.

Foden is one of the finest talents to have come out of English football in recent years.

Since making his debut aged 17 back in 2017, he has gone on to play 210 times for City, scoring 59 goals.

Despite coming through the ranks as a central midfielder, Guardiola has often used Foden in the wide areas.

Furthermore, he has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot in the manager’s XI.

Now, fans have taken to social media to demand Foden be taken off Guardiola’s hands in order to give him the freedom to flourish in the future.

After seeing a compilation of the 22-year-old playing as a right winger, one fan said: “For the good of the future of English football and the beautiful game.

“Someone please take this man off Pep Guardiola’s hands, far away from the constraints of positional football. Give him his own team & all the freedom possible in the world. The least his talent deserves.”

Another fan agreed: “Completely agree, get him in the middle and build a side around him.”

Some fans, however, defended Guardiola, one said: “He owes the career he's had so far to Pep. And Pep adores him like anything. A few months on the bench doesn't do him any harm.”

Back in February, Guardiola described Foden as ‘our diamond’ and backed him to shine for the remainder of the season.

The City boss said: “He played an incredible effort, playing with pain and arrived at the moment when he said: ‘Pep, I cannot [play] any more,’ so he had to rest and recover.

Image
Alamy

“We gave him a week or two weeks off, and after that Riyad [Mahrez] was in his best time of the season and Jack [Grealish] made a step forward. It’s not about intention, he’s a lovely guy. If you are saying I don’t trust with Phil, forget about it. Phil is our diamond.”

Do you think Foden needs to leave City to further develop his career? Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Phil Foden, Fan Reactions, Football