‘We’ve seen it before’ – Rio Ferdinand compares Man City’s Phil Foden to Manchester United’s flop

Rio Ferdinand compared Phil Foden to Manchester United flop Juan Sebastian Veron after the Manchester City star’s disappointing display in England’s Euro 2024 opener.

Foden struggled to influence the game as England secured a nervy 1-0 win over Serbia on Tuesday night. The City star was named Premier League Player of the Year last season after his superb displays helped City to a fourth successive top-flight crown, although he struggled to transfer that form to the international stage earlier this week.

Ferdinand believes Foden needs to “dominate” his team-mates more and demand the ball if he is to shine at the European Championships in Germany, comparing his situation to that of Veron at United. Veron was signed by United for £28m in 2001 but rarely threatened to prove his skills. He was sold to Chelsea two years later after making 51 league appearances for the club.

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Speaking on his FIVE podcast, Ferdinand said: “Me, Micah (Richards) and Cesc (Fabregas) did that game (for the BBC) the other day and Micah was saying he felt sorry for Phil and how (Gareth) Southgate didn’t that’s enough. the best of him.

“And then, to be fair, Cesc just brushed him off, just said, ‘Listen, no, no, no, it’s up to Foden.’ Foden has to go out there and you talk about body language, about being demanding and authoritative with the way you want the ball.

“Jude (Bellingham) has that in hand and I think if we’re going to see the best of Phil Foden, and I agree with Cesc, he’s got to really go out there and try to dominate the pitch and dominate some of them. his teammates to give him the ball and be the first to shout”.

He continued: “But we’ve seen it before at Man United. We had Roy Keane asking for the ball in midfield. We signed a superstar in Juan Sebastian Veron. Ridiculous player, the streets will never forget this one dude, that bandage below the knee.

“He was a playmaker who wanted to get the ball off all the players and that’s how he got his rhythm and his game. But Roy Keane dominated because he was more animated, the characteristics he had and he was much more dominant.

“He was there before and dominated that area. And Veron really dropped out 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 fell like that.”