Phil Foden: Man City star’s future plunged into further doubt after Pep Guardiola’s Real Madrid decision
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Man City scored an equaliser through Erling Haaland, but the Norwegian’s finish would ultimately prove irrelevant. ⚽ Man City Matchday ⚽ Team news, line-ups, tactical previews and expert breakdowns for every Manchester City fixture. VISIT THE MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Pep Guardiola ignores Phil Foden completelyJust four months ago, Foden looked to be back to his very, very best, scoring six goals in four Premier League games as Man City started to charge.
Last season, the midfielder did not reach the same levels that saw him score 27 goals across all competitions in the 2023-24 season, scoring just 13 as his team suffered an off-year.Season PhaseTotal GoalsStatus2023-24 (Peak)27 GoalsIntegral Starter2024-25 (Dip)13 GoalsSquad Rotation2025-26 (Current)7 GoalsUnused Sub (UCL)With Man City back in the title race, however, the 25-year-old looked to be back in form and ready to fire Guardiola’s side to success.But Foden’s goal against Crystal Palace in December would be his last since, with the midfielder now struggling for minutes. Football Insider exclusively revealed on Sunday that Foden could leave Man City this summer, with his contract set to expire in 2027.
Phil FodenPremier League 2025-26Appearances26Goals7Assists3Chances created44Successful dribbles22Fouls won26Tuesday’s game would have done little to change his mind, either, with Guardiola electing to keep him sat on the bench for both legs against Real Madrid despite Man City needing a goal.Foden to struggle for World Cup placeIt is a damning indictment of Foden that Guardiola has chosen not to trust him in Man City’s biggest moments in recent months. It remains unclear whether Guardiola will leave in the summer, potentially providing the midfielder with a fresh start at the Etihad Stadium.Your City side to take on Real Madrid! 🩵XI | Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Cherki, Doku, HaalandSUBS | Trafford, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Guéhi, Savinho, O'Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Lewis pic.twitter.com/o3qhdseN0Y— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 17, 2026 View Tweet However, Foden’s immediate concern will be that his spot in England’s World Cup squad is under serious threat.The likes of Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze are all competition for the 25-year-old, and all of them are staking good claims for a seat on Thomas Tuchel’s plane.The German would have been paying attention as Foden was dropped from the Man City team for a crunch Champions League tie, and it may be a decision that proves impactful.