Fabio Capello has now suggested that Kalvin Phillips has gone backwards since swapping Leeds United for Manchester City.
The 77-year-old spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about the England international.
So, what did Fabio Capello say about Kalvin Phillips? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, Juventus – a club close to the Italian’s heart – have been linked with a move for the Manchester City No.4 in January.
A story from Calciomercato even claimed that Juventus have made Phillips their No.1 target.
However, Capello told Gazzetta dello Sport that he would prefer to see Juventus sign Domenico Berardi instead of the 27-year-old or Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Tottenham, who is also said to be a target.
When explaining his comment, he suggested that Phillips is no longer the player he once was at Leeds United.
Capello said: “Phillips is in the England national team, and in his time at Leeds, always seemed to be the complete midfielder.”
No mention of the £45m man’s time at Manchester City – which is telling.
In truth, Phillips probably is going backwards – regardless of the fantastic education he has received from Pep Guardiola across the last 18 months, footballers need to be playing if they want to progress.
Remarkably, the Yorkshire Pirlo – as he was nicknamed at Elland Road – has only made two Premier League starts since joining Manchester City, which is nowhere near enough.
Kalvin Phillips still cannot get a start for Manchester City
Guardiola decided to rest Rodri – the man he so often hails when asked about Phillips – in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League win over BSC Young Boys.
Many surely assumed that this decision would see Phillips handed a rare start, but it was not to be.
Guardiola instead opted to field Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes in midfield – both of whom were signed in the summer from Chelsea and Wolves respectively.
In our view, that feels like it was a message to Phillips – as things stand, the man from Yorkshire’s time at Manchester City appears to be over.
