BERNARDO SILVA BELIEVES Manchester City prodigy Phil Foden will rank among the world’s best midfielders within two years.
The homegrown 19-year-old has lived with big expectations since breaking into City’s first-team setup in the title-winning 2017-18 season.
Pep Guardiola used him 13 times in the Premier League last term and, in July, went so far as to describe Foden as the “most talented player” he has ever seen, ahead of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
Likewise, Portugal international Silva is “very excited” about the youngster’s potential and expects him to make a rapid rise to the top of the game, so long as the pressure on his shoulders is carefully managed.
“I just think he’s six years younger than me, but he’s a huge, huge talent,” Silva told the BBC.
“If he keeps working as hard as he does every day, because he does work very hard, and if his mentality is good — and he has that — [then in] one, two years he will be one of the best midfielders in the world.
“To go from the second team of Manchester City to the first one, it is a huge step.
Me, I was from the second team at Benfica, to Monaco, then always growing, and then Manchester City.
“I don’t know what kind of pressure he has, but he enjoys playing football so much and he loves what he does.”
Foden, who is yet to win a senior England cap, made a 10-minute cameo off the bench in City’s season-opening 5-0 win at West Ham, the 19th Premier League appearance of his career.
Silva added: “He will be successful because when you have a good mentality like he has and when you are good, because he’s very good, it’s a matter of time.
Sometimes you need six more months, sometimes you need one more year, but sooner or later he will be one of the best.”
Next up for City is a huge home fixture against Tottenham, who also picked up a win in their opening fixture, beating newly promoted Aston Villa 3-1.
A trip to Bournemouth follows for Guardiola’s side eight days later and Foden will be hopeful he can play a part in both matches as he continues his development.
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He is such a talent,i just hope he doesnt fade out like so many other players.How is it that Belgium are producing these players?
Looking over the hedges into Holland for the last 20 years I’d say….
If the Irish public and the fai gave a toss about our league, maybe one day we could be producing players of that caliber and competing in the champions league.
Put pressure on the FAI to revamp the league, new teams & franchise. One team per county & 2 for Dublin! GET OF YOUR BARSTOOL IRELAND.
Next Friday Irl are probably gonna get slaughtered by Germany, and the same old moaning will start! do something about it stop relying on England’s hand me downs, produce our own players! Mimic Spain & Belgium, build academies!
I’m free on Wednesday Michael if that’s any good to ya?
We’ll do it tomorrow
Hes Kosovan but they have no team, hes going to play with Albainia
He hasn’t decided who he’s going to play for yet. He said two years ago that he would make his decision when he’s playing regular first team football.
He could play with England from 2015 due to residency rules.
The new Paul Scholes?
Belgium will be hoping they can hold on to him, as will Utd. I don’t know why he wouldn’t declare for Belgium as they should do well in the world cup next year and have a great chance of winning Euro 2016 or World Cup 2018.
What position did he start today?
Left mid
He might have an Irish granny and is probably holding on for a calling up from our new gaffer!
Eh, Roy Hodgson started talking about “nationalising” him so he can qualify as an England player- his Irish granny has got no chance…although as usual they’re way ahead of themselves, cos everybody wants to play for Engurland.
As long as he’s not the new Pogba (Contract ends at the end of the season), you can call him whatever you want.
Isn’t Januzaj out of contact at the end of the season?! This performance will have his agent doing cartwheels.
Delighted, glad to see a united team finally fight tooth and nail….
He’s the new Macheda!
Nah, in fairness he’s good alright.
Ive been saying since pre season that this kid should be starting in the team. He played every week during pre season and scored and couple and made a couple of assists. He will be a more central player as he gets older ( he started wide today ) And he will be one of the best in the world in a couple of years.
Belgium have unearthed a a load of excellent offensive midfielders in the last few years. But are still weakish in defence. Not sure they will be winning any major comps.
They have unearthed a lot of attacking talent based on the decision to standardise the playing formation to 4-3-3 across all levels of Belgium football a few years ago. Seemed strange at the time but it appears to be paying off now. They also copied the Barcelona academy training regime by having their young players first play 5v5 then 8v8 and eventually 11v11 to improve their technical ability. If they hold the ball as well as Barca it won’t matter how good their defence is. Having said that they have some good defenders in Verthongen, Vermaelan and Kompany
Weakish in defence? Vertonghon ,vermalan, kompany, van buyten(b.munich),alderweireld(a.madrid), lombaerts(zenith)…….do you watch football….
”He can be anything he wants to be”declares Carrick.
I think he will stick to being a footballer, good lad Carrick.
brill goal especially the second this is wat united have been crying out for..a good midfielder…..onwards and upward plz sign a new contract…MUFC TILL I DIE!!!
What a Crowd of Fakes..
Who here is a Manchester city fan I know I am
Goway Dermot look at the state of you
Mötley… Another winning bet look at my twitter