John Barnes has claimed that one Manchester City player will never play as well as he does at club level for his national team.
A select few players tend to replicate their form at club level for their countries — with names like Lionel Messi, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos standing out in recent years.
Nathan Ake, who entered Euro 2024 off the back of yet another impressive season at the Etihad Stadium was one of the Netherlands’ four best players against Poland, as per Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag. But players like Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol were not at their best in their nations’ first games of the tournament.
John Barnes makes bold Phil Foden for England claim now
Roy Keane defended Foden, describing him as “amazing” player and stressing that he is “entitled to an off night.”
But questions are being asked about whether the £225,000-a-week man even suits how the Three Lions’ style of play after his muted display in his country’s 1-0 win against Serbia.
According to John Barnes, unless England play like Manchester City, they will never be able to get the best out of Foden.
Barnes told talkSPORT: “I remember going through something similar. What [Sir] Bobby Robson used to say to me was we want you to play for England the way you play for Liverpool. And you know what I said to him?”
“If England play the way Liverpool do, I would and it’s the same for Phil Foden. Regardless of if you put Phil Foden on the left, in the middle, on the right, wherever you think his favourite position was, until they play like Man City, nothing will change.”
Barnes added: “The left-back for Man City is [Josko] Gvardiol, he’s a left-footer, the way Man City play suits him. So, it doesn’t matter about putting him, [Anthony] Gordon, Cole Palmer, unless England is going to play the way their clubs play, you will never ever get the best out of him.”
John Barnes also feels that with Jude Bellingham playing as a number 10 for England, that affects how Foden plays due to him also being an attacking midfielder.
“And of course, if you’re going to have Jude Bellingham as the number 10, get him on the ball all the time, what is he going to be doing? All Phil Foden’s going to be doing is being a bit-part player.”
Barnes concluded: “Bit-part player, work hard, defend, give the ball to Bellingham. So, what is he doing there?”
“This whole idea of finding the best position for him for England, it doesn’t matter what position he plays, the football, the tactics, the template of how they play, the way they move the ball, one-touch, two-touch quickly, unless it’s going to be like Manchester City, you’ll never see the best of Phil Foden.”
A bit over the top to make such claims regarding Phil Foden
Contrary to John Barnes’ claims, England simply need to figure out how to utilise Foden better than they did against Serbia and if they do, he will look as incredible for his country as he does for Manchester City.
It goes without saying that the English should perhaps analyse how City get the best out of the 24-year-old when he plays centrally.
By doing that and working on specific patterns of play and favourable zones to pass the ball to Foden in with the entire team, he is likely to look far better against Denmark on Thursday.
England will not have to change their entire playing style, as Barnes claims while also successfully familiarising themselves with situations where the decorated attacker thrives.