From the magical feet of David Silva to the powerful presence of Yaya Toure and the lethal finishing of Sergio Aguero, Manchester City have been blessed with some of the finest talents in modern football.
While those icons have now retired from the game, the present City squad continues to boast world-class players who dominate both the Premier League and Europe.
Erling Haaland has quickly become one of the most feared strikers in world football, tormenting defenders week in and week out.
Also, midfield general Rodrigo Hernandez, widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, continues to dictate the tempo in midfield after recovering from injury setbacks.
Yet, despite the brilliance of Haaland and Rodri, it is another name that has drawn a truly remarkable comparison from former Manchester City Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain.
Begiristain recently compared Phil Foden to Andres Iniesta, one of the greatest midfielders in football history.
According to him, the England international carries qualities that constantly remind him of the Barcelona legend who defined an era with his vision, composure, and ability to dominate the biggest games.
Phil Foden Reminded Txiki Begiristain of Andres Iniesta
Comparing Phil Foden to Andres Iniesta is not something made lightly.
Iniesta was a generational player who played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s golden years and Spain’s World Cup triumph in 2010.
Therefore, for Foden to be mentioned in the same breath by someone of Begiristain’s pedigree speaks volumes about his talent and potential.
Speaking about the first time he spotted Foden, Begiristain recalled his early impressions from more than a decade ago at Manchester City’s academy.
“Platt Lane! Mark Adams was then the academy director, I said, ‘You have to come here, there is a boy’,” Begiristain explained.
The former Barcelona executive said he could immediately see a player who reminded him of Iniesta.
“Coming from Barcelona, I always remember the ones like Iniesta and these ones, it’s amazing the way that they play, they see, you know, head up, and the hunger to do well, to score goals. Now, he’s one of the best players in the world,” he told Man City media.
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Begiristain’s words will no doubt serve as another major confidence boost for Foden, who has long been described as Manchester City’s homegrown jewel.
Pep Guardiola has consistently praised the midfielder’s ability to play across multiple roles.
Phil Foden’s Incredible Performance Against Manchester United
Foden’s recent display in the Manchester derby provided a perfect example of why Begiristain’s comparison carries weight.
Manchester City secured a dominant 3-0 victory over rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium, and Foden was at the heart of everything.
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He opened the scoring with a perfectly timed header in the first half, showing his sharp instincts inside the box.
Beyond his goal, Foden’s positioning, movement, and quick passing repeatedly unsettled United’s defence and created spaces for his teammates to exploit.
