Ferdinand demands Foden be played in midfield alongside Bellingham at EURO 2024
Rio Ferdinand has urged Gareth Southgate to deploy Phil Foden as part of a midfield three for England at this summer's European Championship.
The Manchester City star stole the show as his side romped to a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday night, scoring his second hat-trick of the campaign.
Foden played as City's central attacking midfielder in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, a position he excelled in during the Belgian's lengthy period on the sidelines through injury this season.
Pep Guardiola has often shifted the 23-year-old out to one of the wings when De Bruyne is present, while Gareth Southgate has been reluctant to field him as one of three central midfielders for England.
But on the evidence of his most recent performance, Ferdinand believes the case is closed. Foden must play alongside Jude Bellingham, according to the former Manchester United defender, as the pair are operating at a 'different level' to their peers.
'We're sitting here going well even with England, surely he's got to play centrally.' he said on TNT Sports. 'This is the common debate at the moment, where to play Phil Foden to get the best out of him.
'These actions here tell you enough, all you need to know. Get these clips to Gareth and say "listen, who else is doing this?"'
'Declan Rice holding [midfield], I'd say Jude Bellingham and Foden, work it out between you. The advanced eight-10 position is how the top teams are playing.
'Arsenal do it, Man City do it now. This kid is is a player who finds a way, the intelligence levels of this player are supremely high.
'Jude Bellingham's operating at a different level as well. You find a way to get those two players in because they're intelligent enough to complement each other. And we saw in
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