City director: We are so proud of Foden and what he's achieved already

One of the top players in the world,

Erling Haaland

, is already a part of

's roster. They are confident they will soon have another after signing

to a new contract.

Ahead of this weekend's crucial match against Liverpool at Anfield, City revealed Foden's long-awaited five-year agreement on Friday. Foden has turned in two of his best performances in a City uniform against

Liverpool

over the past two seasons, scoring twice and assisting on a fourth goal in a 4-1 win in 2020-21 and adding another goal in a 2-2 draw last season.

Such performances are now occurring with growing regularity, calling for an even larger role for probably England's brightest promise. Haaland and Foden were benched as

Pep Guardiola

rotated his starters against

Copenhagen

on Wednesday to save minutes for Liverpool.

Foden, who scored a hat trick in the Manchester derby against his former team earlier this month, has been overshadowed by Haaland's 20 goals in 13 games this season, but he has seven in 13 from wide. Foden has more than justified City's faith in him by signing fresh terms, averaging an involvement in a goal every 81 minutes thanks to his three assists.

Txiki Begiristain, City's director of football, said, 

"We are all so proud of Phil and what he has achieved already,"

said City director of football Txiki Begiristain.

"But we know there is so much more to come. His natural talent and ability are obvious, but his hard work, professionalism and dedication make him really special. He loves football more than anything, and his desire to improve is really incredible.  

"We feel he can progress further and become even better than he is today. 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."

While Foden has played over 10,000 minutes for the first team in 182 appearances, he had to wait his turn under Guardiola at first. During the 2017–18 season, Foden only got the nod three times in all competitions, although he started 11 games the following year. The following year, 2019-20, he was involved in 17 goals but only started 18 of his 38 games.

Foden started only three matches in all competitions in the 2017-18 season and 11 the following campaign. Even in the season after 2019-20, when he had 17 goal involvements, just 18 of his 38 appearances were starts.

With Haaland, who has set up two of his seven goals this season, and

set up three, he looks set to reach new heights.

"He's not a young talent any more,"

Kevin De Bruyne said late last season of a team-mate then still just 21

. "He's one of the guys."

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