Why Manchester City Extended Foden’s Contract – Colin Hendry

Colin Hendry has said that Manchester City owners are basically protecting their asset by extending Phil Foden’s contract. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

Admitting that the new deal will help keep Foden’s asking price high, Colin revealed that the club is simply protecting the England international’s value ahead of a possible exit.

He added that it is now up to Phil to seize the opportunity and prove why Manchester City must keep him around.

His words, “That’s a good question because I thought he was going to kick on, but not even not making the England squad – you’ve Palmer as well that didn’t make it.

To be fair, England had an abundance of riches of midfielders-come-number-10s. But I think from a Man City point of view, it’s definitely protecting the asset and something of value. Not sure a lot of the rest of the world, the rest of the league are thinking that way, but he’s home grown and he has got to kick on again at some point.

You’re right when you say it’s been two seasons of indifference for Phil Foden, but I still think that he’s got a lot to give and if he can kick on and go again then he’ll become a superstar of a player.

Sometimes in your career, you need to have that something that gives you a real lift. You go, ‘right, now I’m going to play first team football’.

And I don’t think for Phil being an also-ran or in a squad and being a sub, that’s like the start of his career at City. That’s what he started as, that’s what you do as a young player – you start, you earn your stripes, you get into the team, then you might get on as a sub, then you might convince the manager that he’s going to start you now and again, then you’re a regular.

Phil Foden’s gone the complete opposite way now, hasn’t he? A new manager’s come in, so that might change. But I think at his age and what he’s achieved, I think if Phil Foden had the opportunity to go and play for a club, and a really good club at that, and give him that drive and that hunger again to prove people wrong, I think Phil needs that.

Look what Phil’s done in the last year-and-a-half. City have been successful in the last few years and Phil’s ended up losing his place at City, not being in England’s squad. So he’s got to do something.”