Rio Ferdinand has compared Phil Foden to Manchester United flop Juan Sebastian Veron after the Manchester City star’s underwhelming display in England’s opening Euro 2024 game.
Foden struggled to impact the game as England secured a nervy 1-0 win against Serbia on Sunday night. The City star was named the Premier League Player of the Year last season after his superb showings helped drive City to their fourth successive top-flight crown, though he struggled to transfer that form onto the international stage earlier this week.
Ferdinand believes Foden needs to “dominate” his teammates more and demand the ball if he’s to shine at the European Championship in Germany, comparing his situation to the one Veron found himself in at United. Veron was signed by United for £28m in 2001 but rarely threatened to showcase his ability. He was sold to Chelsea two years later having made 51 league appearances for the club.
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Speaking on his FIVE podcast, Ferdinand said: “Me, Micah [Richards] and Cesc [Fabregas] done that game [for BBC ] the other day and Micah was saying how he felt sorry for Phil and about how [Gareth] Southgate’s not getting the best out of him.
“And then, to be fair, Cesc just put him away, just said, ‘listen, no, no, no, it’s down to Foden’. Foden’s got to go out there and you’re talking about body language, being demanding and authoritative with the way that you want the ball.
“Jude [Bellingham] has got that in spades and I think if we’re going to see the best out of Phil Foden, and I agree with Cesc, he’s got to really go out there and try and dominate the pitch and dominate some of his teammates to give him the ball and be the first one to shout.”
He continued: “But I’ve seen this before at Man United. We had Roy Keane who demanded the ball in the middle of the pitch. We signed a superstar in Juan Sebastian Veron. Ridiculous player, the streets will never forget this guy, that bandage under the knee.
“He was a playmaker that wanted to get the ball off all of the players and that’s how he got his rhythm and play. But Roy Keane dominated because he was more animated, the characteristics that he had came out and was much more dominant.
“He was there before and dominated that area. And Veron folded really 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 fall like that.”