Real Madrid have been linked with a move for Manchester City starlet Phil Foden, with the Spanish champions ready to ‘profit’ from the youngster’s declining role at the Etihad.
Foden is a favorite of Pep Guardiola but has had to patiently wait for his chances under the former Barcelona boss. He started this season strong, with successive starts against Wolves, Leicester, Leeds and Arsenal, but has started only one of ten Premier League games since.
He was part of City’s Champions League campaign and featured in Tuesday’s EFL Cup loss to Arsenal. He did manage a brief appearance from the bench against Newcastle on Boxing Day, however, and The Mirror claims “frustration is starting to grow” over his lack of involvement.
Semi-finals !!!! pic.twitter.com/B27KR6JiTW
– Phil Foden (@PhilFoden) December 22, 2020
In an exclusive report, they say Real Madrid are watching the 20-year-old and are increasingly convinced they can lure him to Spain. They see him as a prodigious talent in line with their strategy of training the best young players on the planet, and would hope for a rise in Jadon Sancho if they secured him.
Foden, however, extended his contract until 2024 earlier this season and is seen as a big part of Guardiola’s plans going forward. It will not be an easy acquisition: certainly not if the glowing evaluation of his manager on Boxing Day is to be taken at face value.
“He can score a lot of goals. He has an incredible shot. He’s late. The last part… it’s something we don’t have. We love this guy. It has everything to be really special, ”he said. .
“I want the best for him and if he has the desire to do it, he will get it for sure.
“Phil wants to beat the world, he wants to beat the world and he wants to be important. He has incredible energy when he started, but in the final decision, in the final pass, he has to slow down a bit.
“He has to figure out how to change the pace, but it comes with experience.
“We will be incredibly patient. It’s not easy for a young player to have a rise like his in this club, playing important games and with the national team. The strangest thing would be if he was 20 and he wasn’t. something to improve. It’s impossible. This is not a problem. “
