Erling Haaland, Marcus Rashford, Ansu Fati, Eduardo Camavinga… The last few years have seen the emergence of several football prodigies, whose performances at just 20 years old already panic fans.

If the PSG can count on its own "wonder kid", Kylian Mbappé, author of XXL performances against Barcelona and Bayern Munich, he will have to be wary of Phil Foden, fatal weapon of his opponent of the semi-final of the Champions League, Manchester City.

From the height of his 1.71 m and his 70 kg, Phil Foden has emerged this season as the number 1 offensive asset of the "Citizens".

The little prince of Mancun has scored fourteen goals and delivered eleven assists with Manchester City this season.

He simply made himself indispensable in the midfield, whether in the center or on the wings.

In the quarterfinals against Dortmund, he contributed to the building to shake the "yellow wall".

In the first leg (2-1), he contributed to the collective action that brought De Bruyne's goal before scoring the winning goal.

Then, on the return (1-2), he proved untenable throughout the match before registering with a powerful shot the goal of deliverance for his family.

"He's the only player you can't sell, whatever the circumstances. The only one. Not even for 500 million euros," City coach Pep Guardiola said last year.

"Phil isn't going anywhere, Phil IS City."

A house prodigy

Born in Stockport, on the outskirts of Manchester, Phil Foden is a pure Mancunian product.

At home, his father is a United fan, his mother is City.

And it was for the maternal club that he was passionate about from childhood.

How it started How it's going pic.twitter.com/QUfHqjxuAP

- Phil Foden (@PhilFoden) February 7, 2021

Phenomenon on local football fields, Phil Foden was quickly debauched by Manchester City, where he joined the academy at the age of 8.

“We have scouts all over Manchester. No matter where in Manchester is, if there is a football match there is probably a Boy Scout looking for special talent next door. Phil has been spotted at his school by one of my scouts, and he had a recommendation, ”says Joe Makin, his recruiter, in an article on the specialist site Ultimo Diez. "He was playing for the local Reddish Vulcans team, and because he was born at the end of the year, he was smaller and more nervous, physically, than the others. But you gave him a ball, and it all went downhill. I remember a game, when he was still a kid, where everyone was raving about him. At the time, we all knew we were watching a special kid. "

The recruiter says that United tried to get their hands on the little local prodigy, but that the latter preferred to sign in his club of heart.

A club where he thrives in the training center, while returning to play discreetly with the Reddish Vulcans at the weekend.

Pampered by Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola spotted him upon his arrival on the Manchester City bench in 2016. He joined the professional group when he was only 16 years old.

This is the start of a symbiotic relationship between the two men, which in some ways is reminiscent of the one the Catalan may have had with Messi during his time at Barcelona.

However, Pep Guardiola wants to take his time with the young man, not to grill the stages at the risk of burning his wings. The 2017/2018 season was a turning point in the young career of the kid from Stockport. He plays his first minutes with the pros during the summer preparation tour in the United States. Then he contributed greatly to the victory of the England team in the Under-17 World Cup. He even won the competition's Golden Ball.

The following ? Phil Foden continues the precocity records. He made his Champions League debut against Feyenoord, replacing Yaya Touré in November 2017, becoming at 17 years and 177 days the fourth youngest English player to take part in a match in European competition. The following month, against Shakhtar Donetsk, he became the youngest English player to start in the Champions League (at the age of 17 years and 192 days). And on May 13, 2018, he became the youngest English player to receive a Premier League medal after Manchester City's coronation.

Phil Foden is already the darling of the British sports media, which nicknamed him the "Stockport Iniesta" (Stockport Iniesta) and who demanded more playing time from Guardiola for the English nugget.

The Catalan prefers to take his time not to expose the young man too much and never makes him start two consecutive meetings, as in the league.

Holder or substitute, winger or central midfielder, Foden is always present and is one of the architects of the second league title the following year.

Youthful escapades?

It is only logical that Phil Foden is called by Gareth Southgate to join the English national team.

He knows his first selection with the "Three Lions" on September 5, 2020 during a match against Iceland.

However, it is outside the field that he will be talked about. He is seen with his teammate Mason Greenwood in the company of two Icelandic guests at the players' hotel, against health protocols against Covid-19. Enough to spoil his image as the perfect little prodigy of English football, he who has been the father of a family since he was 18 years old. Gareth Southgate, England manager, immediately sends the two players home.

He does not recall Phil Foden at the next gathering in October 2020, just to mark the occasion with the young man.

His return under the English colors did not take place until November, for another match against Iceland.

Holder for the first time, Foden contributes to the great English victory (4-0) by offering an assist and by scoring a double.

"He's going to be fabulous with England in the years to come," Southgate said.

Everything is forgiven.

[#UCL] 🔴 Phil Foden separates from his communication agency which had taken the liberty of making this tweet to Mbappé pic.twitter.com/sam9Ae2CoJ

- Footballogue⭐️⭐️ (@Footballogue) April 16, 2021

The episode, however, left traces and the young Englishman tries to carefully control his image. It went out of its hinges when the communication company that manages its Twitter account provoked its future opponent Kylian Mbappé, shortly after City's victory against Dortmund: "Kylian Mbappé, are you ready?", Asked this message which had yet regaled the fans, desperate for the smooth communication of modern football. However, he immediately withdrew the message and then terminated his contract with the company in question.

Anyway, the Mbappé-Foden duel, two immense stars of the new generation, is launched and will be one of the attractions of the confrontation between Manchester City and PSG.

By scoring in the home and back against Dortmund, Foden became the second player in Under-21 history to score in both matches of a C1 quarter-final after ... Kylian Mbappé.

The confrontation of two phenomena of precocity.

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR