Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has delivered a passionate plea for Manchester City to build their team around Phil Foden, just as news broke that the 25-year-old star is closing in on a lucrative new four-year contract at the Etihad.
Speaking on his BBC Sounds show before the contract announcement, Rooney didn't hold back in his assessment of the City academy graduate, who has been enduring a rare dip in form—failing to find the net since mid-December.
"Foden has to play every game for me," declared the former England captain. "I love watching him play. I love his little movements, how he gets into pockets of space. It's not nice watching him sit on the bench."
Despite his recent struggles, Foden's trophy cabinet tells an extraordinary story. Since making his debut at just 17, he's racked up 365 appearances for City, collecting six Premier League titles, a Champions League crown, and two FA Cups. That's the kind of silverware that most players can only dream of.
The timing of Rooney's comments is particularly interesting. Foden came off the bench in Monday's thrilling 3-3 draw at Everton—a six-goal rollercoaster that leaves City five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, though with a game in hand.
Rooney, who knows a thing or two about pressure at the highest level, questioned why a player of Foden's calibre is being rotated so heavily. "When De Bruyne left, I thought 'put him in there and leave him in there'," he said. "You see foreign lads coming in and getting opportunities ahead of him. Even for Man City, it's not nice to watch."
The United legend acknowledged the competition for places—namechecking Jeremy Doku as "a breath of fresh air" and "incredible"—but remained adamant: "When you have a player of that quality, you have to just keep playing him. He's had bad moments, but being taken out and put on the sidelines for weeks on end isn't the answer."
For City fans, the question now is how Pep Guardiola will integrate their homegrown hero more consistently—especially with a new deal reportedly on the horizon. One thing's for sure: Rooney's message is loud and clear. Foden needs to be at the heart of everything City do.