PHIL FODEN says there is a lot more to come after finally committing his long-term future to Manchester City.
The England ace, 22, has given the champions a timely boost by signing a five-year deal believed to be worth around £200,000 per week.
It is just the news City fans wanted to hear ahead of their crunch trip to face deadly rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
And Foden – who has already won 11 major trophies with his boyhood club – says he is just getting started.
He said: “It’s such an easy thing to say but there’s a lot more to come.
“I’ve a determination to always want to win and I think I’ve always been like that since I was young. Anything I play in I want to win.
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“I feel like I can add a lot more goals and hopefully this season I’m seemingly doing that so hopefully I can keep going down that road.
“It’s hard to put into words how happy I am to sign the contract. It’s an extremely proud day for me and my family but it was such an easy decision.”
Foden’s potential has been known about at City since he was a kid – but he has blossomed since Pep Guardiola gave him his break five years ago.
The club believe he can kick on and become one of the top players in the world over the next few years.
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Foden said: “The manager has been amazing. Unbelievable, I think he’s made me ten times the player I was.
“He’s improved all aspects of my game and I’m just thankful to have him here and I’m enjoying my football with him.
“I’m getting more mature, older, understanding the game a bit more and all those things together.”
Foden scored a hat-trick in the win over neighbours Manchester United earlier this month – and has now gone past 50 goals for City.
He also found the net on his two previous visits to Anfield and will be hoping he can repeat the trick on Sunday.
Foden added: “This year, I think I’ve been scoring a lot more goals so hopefully I can keep going in that direction.
“I don’t like to put too much pressure on myself but obviously I have little goals in my head.”
Phil can focus absolutely everything on becoming one of the best players in the world
Txiki Begiristain
City believe Foden can one day fill the gap currently occupied by Kevin de Bruyne at the heart of their midfield – and the Belgian agrees.
Foden is often used out wide by Guardiola but said: “At the moment I enjoy playing off the right and left.
“My preferred position is obviously midfield but, like I said, I can do those other jobs as well.”
Foden was poised to sign a new contract 12 months ago but has since split with the agent who led those negotiations.
His new deal should see him treble his current wages – as his previous one was believed to be worth around £60,000 per week.
City director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “We feel he can progress further and become even better than he is today.
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“By signing this contract, he now has stability and can focus absolutely everything on becoming one of the best players in the world, which we feel he can be.
“We are all so proud of Phil and what he has achieved already – but we know there is so much more to come.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
