Pep Guardiola won’t sell Phil Foden—even for €500 million

Media-driven speculation of a rift between Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and 19-year old academy star Phil Foden has been put to rest.

After scoring the second to seal a City victory at home in the Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb, Foden celebrated in style by kissing the badge of his boyhood club, a signal meant to end all doubt about his future at Manchester City.

Despite recent speculation that several clubs would be interested in taking the England U-21 international on loan or that he could follow former City youth prospect Jadon Sancho’s path away from the club, both Guardiola and Foden are committed to keeping the Stockport native’s future at the Etihad.

"We didn’t give Foden a new contract by accident. He is the only player that can’t be sold under any circumstances. Not even for €500 million,” Guardiola told The Sun. “Phil’s going nowhere, Phil is City. We won’t be signing anyone else for that position.”"

Foden has the backing of both the club and manager to succeed club legend and current captain David Silva when he departs Manchester at the end of the season, although he could feature more in Guardiola’s immediate plans after the international break.

With an up-and-down domestic season for City after several key injuries at the back, many have called for talented youth products such as Foden, Eric García, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis to play more regularly for the senior side.

The development of these players will take time, however, and they are in the hands of arguably the best manager in world football. Therefore, while there may appear to be external pressure on Guardiola to give his youth, especially Foden, a chance, the player understands that he is trying to break into one of the world’s most competitive starting lineups and that his opportunity will arrive.

"“In an ideal world, he’d be captain of Man City and playing every week, but at this moment in his development he’s playing with the best players in the world every day with one of the best coaches in the world, in Pep,” England U-21 manager Aidy Boothroyd said to TalkSport. “Sometimes in our society someone does well and we want to microwave them into being a superstar when they’re not quite ready.”"

The fact that Foden has been able to find any senior minutes in this City team and manage to score some impactful goals, such as the winner in City’s 1-0 home victory over Tottenham last season in the Premier League, speaks to his world-class potential.

While the media narrative has praised Frank Lampard’s Chelsea for the development of academy products such as Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, and Fikayo Tomori, all of whom are currently in Gareth Southgate’s England squad during the current international break, City’s youth face an entirely different situation. While Chelsea were hit with a transfer ban and essentially forced to go through a transitional phase highlighted by their academy following the departure of talisman Eden Hazard this summer, City at the moment remain in a different tier of English football: title-winning aspirations and expectations.

Although the Chelsea youth have had a solid start to the season, they are not in the title conversation because they are a young side that lacks experience that will falter down the line. On the other hand, City are aiming to win their third league title in a row and deliver the club’s first Champions League, which comes with a completely different set of expectations. In all likelihood, none of the Chelsea youth would feature for this City team, so there should not be concern when comparing the development of players like Foden to that of Mount.

At just 19 years old, Foden undoubtedly has a bright future in Manchester. Even going beyond his ability, where Guardiola has described Foden as “the most talented player he’s ever seen”, the Catalan manager recognizes his importance to the club as a local product, a boyhood supporter, and one of our own.