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Guardiola overlooks Messi & Xavi in naming Foden ‘the most talented player’

  /  autty

The City boss has coached some superstar performers at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but sees more potential in a current charge

Pep Guardiola has worked with the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Robert Lewandowski in the past, but considers Manchester City starlet Phil Foden to be “the most talented player I have ever seen”.

The Blues boss told reporters of 19-year-old midfielder Foden: "I said many times in press conferences, but maybe not in front of him - he is the most talented player I have ever seen as a football player or manager" said the coach.

"He has everything to become one of the best players, not just in England.

"His only problem is that sometimes his manager doesn’t put him in the starting XI.

"Hopefully in the future he can improve. He deserves all the minutes but he knows what team he plays for and with his competitors it isn't easy.

"But he is open-minded and he works incredibly hard in every training session. He knows I appreciate him. I’m here to help him as much as possible to become what he is and I am pretty sure both of us will get it."

The appreciation between Guardiola and Foden is mutual, with the youngster having said of the experience he is gaining with the Premier League champions and their highly-rated boss:

“I am lucky to be part of it. It is a special team. The success comes from the depth of the squad.”

He added on the man at the helm: “He works us very hard in training and you can tell by what we do on the pitch he wants the best from us.

“That will only help us play better.”