Phil Foden issues brutal “eBay” response to autograph hunters outside Man City training base | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Phil Foden was quick to issue a brutal response to autograph hunters outside of the club’s training base while stopping to sign merchandise this week.

The 25-year-old, who returned to pre-season training in the last few days hoping to make amends for a difficult 2024/25 campaign, is certainly a familiar face to fans stationed outside the City Football Academy in east Manchester.

However, frustration has been known to bubble to the surface in recent seasons, with a growing number of fans presenting stacks of merchandise for signature, prompting suspicion that items are being flipped online for profit.

Pep Guardiola once notably fumed at autograph hunters waiting inside his apartment building’s car park block with dozens of items to be signed, ultimately refusing to offer any signatures and arguing that they should seek out a different line of work.

In response, Manchester United legend Roy Keane said, “Good on Pep Guardiola for lecturing autograph hunters – they’re an absolute nuisance. You see them everywhere and he’s dead right. Years ago, if you wanted a jersey or photograph, there was an element of respect.

“There isn’t that respect now. Now there’s people waiting in car parks. Also, is that his house? It’s awful if they know where people are living now. They’re idiots, well done Pep.”

As for Phil Foden – who grew up as a City fan himself – he has typically been patient with fans, but a new video clip highlights a shift in attitude, as the line blurs between genuine fan interaction and opportunistic re-selling.

As captured by TikTok user ‘Kaimeetsthestars‘, Manchester City’s star Academy graduate responded to autograph hunters outside of the club’s City Football Academy training base, “How many do you want signing you kid?! What do you do, just put them on eBay?”

The comment came after Foden was presented with several squad numbers to sign, as well as club shirts with his name and shirt number already-printed on the back.

And when one asked whether Foden had time to sign a second number in addition to the one that he had already secured, the 24-year-old replied, “Yeah if you give me half of the dough you’re getting off them!”

Clips of the interaction quickly gained traction on social media, with many supporters backing Foden’s comments and expressing frustration at those who exploit player generosity for personal gain.

With demand for signed merchandise higher than ever, the England international’s blunt remarks are being seen as a defence of authenticity in fan-player exchanges. Looking forward, it remains to be seen whether Manchester City will take steps themselves to formalise access to players during training ground arrivals.

Security staff at the City Football Academy already monitor crowd sizes and behaviour, but may be required to adapt further if similar situations continue. For Foden, the focus will now shift back to the pitch as Manchester City step up preparations ahead of their pre-season clash with Palermo on August 9.

After scooping both the Premier League Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year awards in recent seasons, the attacking midfielder enters 2025/26 with added pressure to return to such heights off the back of a disappointing last campaign across competitions.