“Honestly…” — Phil Foden opens up on potential Manchester City exit | OneFootball

Manchester City star Phil Foden has opened up on the prospects of one day leaving the club.

The forward has epitomized the success of Manchester City’s investment into their youth academy system since the Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club in 2008. Foden has risen from the youngest of the system’s age groups all the way to becoming a first team star.

The 23-year-old has racked up a staggering 67 goals and 47 assists across all competitions for the club since making his senior debut in the 2016/17 campaign, plus a hefty trophy haul to accompany his personal statistics.

This season however, Foden has perhaps taken on his biggest role for Pep Guardiola’s side, playing almost 2,000 minutes already in the 2023/24 campaign as the calendar year closes in on its end.

But Foden recently opened up on the prospects of leaving his boyhood club one day, potentially looking for new adventures around European football.

“No, honestly,” Foden said in an interview with the club. “I just always see myself as a City player.

“I always just thought if I work hard enough and I know what my ability is about, I can push in the team and over time I started getting more minutes and now I’m probably getting the most minutes I’ve had this year.”

“So yeah, I’ve worked really hard for it and it’s thanks to the manager also for trusting me, so I have him to thank for that and keeping me around.”

It will be music to the ears of the Manchester City faithful. While City have not been known for producing a plethora of talent from their youth ranks, the tide is starting to turn as the academy system is beginning to turn into a conveyor belt.

Foden has long been the gem of that system, but his success story has paved the path for others in recent seasons.

In Manchester City’s recent 3-2 victory in the Champions League against group-stage opponents Red Star Belgrade, youth products Micah Hamilton and Oscar Bobb scored two of the Blues’ goals respectively.