RIO FERDINAND says Manchester City star Phil Foden is ‘the best young player in the world’.
The Manchester United and England legend was in awe of Foden’s performance as City eased their way past Paris Saint-Germain to reach the Champions League final.
Two goals from Riyad Mahrez saw Pep Guardiola’s side win 2-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.
But it was Foden who left Ferdinand gushing, with the 42-year-old paying the wonderkid the ultimate compliment.
Speaking on BT Sport after the game, Ferdinand said: “At the moment I would say Phil Foden is the best young player in the world right now on form.
“[Erling] Haaland is yet to play at this level. In terms of this moment, Foden is the best on form.
“They’re doing it in a fantastic manner. I’m not a City fan but I enjoy watching them play football.
“Mahrez, Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Gundogan, they interchange, the fluidity they play with – it’s Total Football.”
Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland has been linked with a whole host of clubs – including City – but Ferdinand is putting Foden at the top of the tree
Ferdinand was also impressed with manager Guardiola’s tactics of completely nullifying PSG’s attacking threat.
The French champs were without star striker Kylian Mbappe, who had a calf injury.
But the likes of Neymar, Angle Di Maria and Mauro Icardi got no change out of the resolute City backiline.
Ferdinand added: “By the end of it they were taking the mick, it was embarrassing for PSG, a team who are full of experience and full of winners. Huge hats off to Pep and his team.
“[It was a] totally dominant display – we were wondering ‘is it a step too far?’ The last 45 minutes in Paris was a pivotal moment, we wondered ‘can they carry the same momentum?’
“[Ruben] Dias and [John] Stones were impenetrable, Foden and Mahrez were immense going forward, Fernandinho was superb at the age of 36, it was a very, very good performance from a top, top team.”
Foden should be a shoe-in for Gareth Southgate’s England Euro2020 squad such have the quality of his performances been this season.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
