Man City’s Phil Foden a potential Ballon d’Or winner, claims Premier League manager
The 23-year-old broke into Pep Guardiola's side in 2017
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden can become the first English footballer to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001, claimed Premier League (PL) side Brentford’s manager Thomas Frank.
Man City will face Brentford in a PL match on Tuesday which was postponed earlier due to Pep Guardiola’s side's participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, which they won 4-0 beating Brazilian side Fluminense in the final.
Guardiola rates Foden very highly and previously hailed him as “the most influential he has been” since breaking into the first team in 2017. Meanwhile, Frank also saw the Englishman’s skills earlier this month when the Cityzens thrashed his side 4-1 courtesy of the 23-year-old’s hat trick.
Former English striker Michael Owen was the last player to win the Ballon d’Or in 2001 and England have not even had a player to finish in the top three since 2005.
“Phil Foden is a very good player,” said Frank, ahead of the match at the Gtech Community Stadium. “For me, he's the closest England get to a Ballon d'Or winner in the future. I think he has that potential, that level.
“He influences the game in so many ways. The last game he got on the end of three situations and scored three goals. He is very at good dribbling, very good at sliding people in.
“He works very hard. He seems to have a good mentality in terms of working hard. He is very good.”
Remember, along with Foden, Real Madrid’s midfielder Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane are also the favourites to claim this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Both Bellingham and Kane moved to new clubs in the summer last year and have been racking up goals and performing week after week. However, the former remains a clear favourite as Madrid have already won one trophy and they are also on top of La Liga while Munich’s position in the Bundesliga has weakened and they can go trophyless.
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