Phil Foden is not for sale, claims Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has said he would never sell midfielder Phil Foden and Foden too has complete faith is the Spanish manager. Foden has struggled to make regular first-team appearances but continues to learn from greats like Kevin De Bryune and David Silva. But Guardiola believes that the 19-year-old midfielder is the next “magician” and someone who could potentially replace David Silva once he leaves City at the end of the season.

“We didn’t give Foden a new contract by accident. He is the only player that can’t be sold under any circumstances — the only one. Not even for 500m euros. Phil’s going nowhere — Phil IS City. We won’t be signing anyone else for that position. When David Silva leaves, we know exactly who our new magician will be,” Guardiola told the Sun.

Lu Martin recently published a new book on Pep Guardiola titled Pep’s City: The Making of a Superteam which revealed that the Catalan has been a huge fan of Foden since arriving at Etihad in 2016. Foden was in the same group consisting of Brahim Diaz and Jadon Sancho. The English wiz-kid left the Citizens for Borussia Dortmund and has taken the world by storm since his move while Brahim Diaz joined Real Madrid. Guardiola told that the English midfielder is destined for greatness and he is very happy that Foden stayed at Manchester City.

“He’s grown up with us. He’s one of us and he’s going to be brilliant — one of the Premier League’s best. It’s better to take things slowly. One thing is clear, Foden has a place in City’s first team. I’d be interested to see if a different manager would have given him his chance to develop, or loaned him out. I don’t like leaving him out of certain games but must think of the whole squad. Phil understands that,” concluded Guardiola.