Rico Lewis has now showered Phil Foden in praise – and credited the Manchester City No.47 for helping him reach the first team.
The 18-year-old spoke to TNT Sports about the England international.
So, what did Rico Lewis say about Phil Foden? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, the England Under-21 international said it is “so beneficial” to have the £225,000-a-week man around, and admitted it was “key” to see him open up a pathway into the first team.
Lewis said: “That was one of the key things (for my journey) when Phil went through (to the first team).
“Seeing how now, he’s so beneficial to the squad and how important he is, vital to the way that Pep plays. Everything coming from the same position that we were in, and seeing the way through.”
Lewis and Foden actually combined to open the scoring for Manchester City against RB Leipzig in September, which helped secure a 3-1 win in Germany.
The Bury-born wonderkid, like Foden, has settled into senior action almost immediately, taking to it like a duck to water, which is credit to the education being delivered in the City Football Academy.
Rico Lewis & Phil Foden have kickstarted a long term ambition for Manchester City
Some may not think it given how much the Citizens spend at times, but the club’s long term ambition is to have mostly City Football Academy graduates in the starting XI on a regular basis.
According to The Times, that is what Khaldoon Al-Mubarak personally wants to achieve as Chairman of Manchester City.
Of course, Oscar Bobb has now broken into the senior squad, but there is still a long way to go until Manchester City achieve the feat of having a mostly homegrown XI, like Pep Guardiola had at Barcelona once upon a time.
It will be a slow process, but the dazzling displays of Lewis and Foden prove Manchester City are on the right track.
