Joleon Lescott has said that Manchester City have someone who is very similar to Wayne Rooney.
The former Manchester United and Everton striker had a very successful playing career, winning numerous domestic and European trophies.
Now though, one of Pep Guardiola’s current players has found themselves being compared to Rooney for a very specific reason by a former City player and pundit.
Lescott says ‘obsessed’ Man City star is just like Rooney
Speaking on TNT Sports (via BBC Sport) after City’s midweek victory, Lescott had this to say about Phil Foden and what makes him similar to Rooney.
He said: “We know Wayne Rooney and I always speak so highly of him and Phil Foden is similar to him in that he is obsessed with football, completely.
“Rooney was the first player I met that wanted to win, had to win more than me – Phil has taken that to a whole new echelon.
“The desire to constantly have the ball at his feet, around hotels, the training ground etcetera. I worked with him at England U21s and we had to ban him from doing extra sessions after training because you couldn’t get him off the pitch. He always wants to work on his technique, put himself into game scenarios and develop.
“He probably loves the game as much as I love my kids! He is just obsessed.”
Since making his senior debut for the Blues back in November 2017, Foden has made 261 appearances for Guardiola’s side across all competitions, scoring 81 goals and supplying 51 assists along the way.
These recent comments from Lescott isn’t the first time the former City defender has compared Foden’s mentality in terms of working hard and winning to Rooney, as he said back in December that the 23-year-old has a the same sort of hunger the former United star had.
Bearing in mind how much of a top season the midfielder is currently having, with 21 goals scored and 10 assists provided in 44 games, it’s clear that his mindset and eagerness to improve has helped hm achieve what he has done.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, if Foden can help his side add even more trophies to their cabinet, he will undoubtedly continue to be seen as a shining light at the Manchester club and a prime example of how players can achieve in the game.
