Rio Ferdinand has clarified that he does not think Phil Foden is a world-class player.
Recently, the pundit claimed that the 23-year-old should be in the discussion to be considered world-class over Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
However, the comments from Rio Ferdinand let to tons of discourse online, with many feeling his opinion regarding the Manchester City attacker was off the mark.
Rio Ferdinand clarifies that Phil Foden is not world-class
While some debated that Phil Foden was indeed world-class and a superior attacker to Bukayo Saka, others felt the latter deserved to be considered in that category of players before the former.
Considering Foden and Saka have been England’s hottest talents for a few years now, it is natural that anytime they are compared by a popular pundit in particular, fans from all clubs chime in to have their say on who is actually better in their eyes.
But Rio Ferdinand has clarified that his comments were misconstrued and that he does not think Phil Foden is world-class.
“Let me just go back to one point. I never ever for one said, so you man need to start watching and listening. Are you listening or are you just flicking through? You have to play the TNT [Sports] clip, right because the quotes I got down here that I said, ‘You have to look at Phil Foden as world-class.’ I didn’t say that.”
“The word, “Phil Foden” and “world-class” didn’t come out my mouth.”
“I haven’t said he’s world-class. Yet”, he said on FIVE’s official YouTube channel.
However, Rio Ferdinand still rates Phil Foden extremely highly, regardless of his opinion about his status as a world-class player.
“Impacting big games. Liverpool, buried them a few times. Champions League semi-finals, I think he dispatched, I think he scored.”
“He scored, Champions League.”
Rio Ferdinand was quizzed about how many of the five Premier League title triumphs at Manchester City has Phil Foden played a key role in.
“I reckon, minimum three of them. 100 per cent. 100 per cent.”
“The kid plays his part, mate.”
“He plays an integral role.”
“When you’re scoring in Champions League semi-finals, when you’re going on the pitch playing against potential rivals to win the Champions League in PSG, with [Lionel] Messi, with Neymar, with [Kylian] Mbappe and you’re standing out in those kinds of games, prestige games, I will consider you somebody.”
Rio Ferdinand also claimed that no player in the world is as effective on the half-turn as Phil Foden in world football, including a certain Kevin De Bruyne.
Phil Foden will get there
Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with Rio Ferdinand, it is only a matter of time before Phil Foden will be widely viewed as a world-class player.
The silky midfielder has all the talent in the world and has shown it consistently against the very best for several years, with Thomas Frank claiming that he could be England’s next Ballon d’Or winner.
Ultimately, terms like “world-class” are extremely vague and every football fan has their own criteria to define a player as one that deserves to be amongst the crème-de-la-crème of the sport.
