When A Young Phil Foden Gave An Honest Assessment Of Mario Balotelli

Phil Foden is Manchester City through and through and always has been, as footage of him as a young kid criticising Mario Balotelli's attitude shows.

Balotelli had an unforgettable three-season spell at the Etihad between 2010 and 2013, during which he helped Manchester City win their maiden Premier League title under Roberto Mancini.

The forward, who was once dubbed “unmanageable” by his former Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho, regularly hit the headlines for his off-field antics.

The Italy international once drove into a women’s prison to “have a look around” and, in another famous incident, set off fireworks in his own home which caused a reported £400,000 worth of damage to his Cheshire mansion.

In the Manchester derby in 2011, he famously unveiled a shirt which read ‘Why Always Me?’ after scoring against United.

Foden, a lifelong supporter of City, was in the club’s academy during Balotelli’s time at the Etihad.

Footage shows a 10-year-old future City star appearing on live television and he was clearly less than impressed with the Italian’s behaviour.

The footage, taken from Italian television show Qui Studio a Voi Stadio, also shows Foden and his City team-mates singing City’s iconic anthem, ‘Blue Moon’.

Balotelli would leave City for AC Milan in 2013 and is now playing his football at Turkish side Adana Demirspor.

His behaviour off the pitch certainly hasn't been as reported as often as it used to be, so you've got to assume that things have quietened down for the former Inter Milan striker.

However, he's still willing to show off his exuberant style of play on the pitch, as his recent goal in Turkey's Super Lig proved, just last week.

Balotelli's famous shirt may not have gone down well with Foden. Image: PA Images

Whilst not everything has changed for 'Balo' in that time, it's certainly been a hell of a decade and a bit for Foden, who turned 22 on Saturday.

He's become a key member of Pep Guardiola's team at the Etihad Stadium, despite his young age, and already has four Premier League titles to his name.

Foden is also a huge part of Gareth Southgate's England squad and there's no doubt he will be important in the World Cup later this year.

Foden is used to lifting the league trophy despite his age. Image: PA Images

Former City defender Joleon Lescott recently claimed that the Stockport native could go down as England's greatest player of all time.

"If he continues at this rate, he goes down as the best English player of all time with two trophies a season.

"His mentality sets him apart. If you compare him with someone like Wayne Rooney, you can see players who are hurt when they don’t win. He is obsessed, I love what I do but he needs to do it."