Jamie Carragher has insisted Phil Foden is more like Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane than Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham and Foden could find themselves competing for the same position this summer for England at Euro 2024 with Gareth Southgate set to make a huge decision.
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Both have had stunning campaigns for their respective clubs - Bellingham has won LaLiga in his debut year at Real Madrid and could yet win the Champions League while Foden is the Player of the Year after leading Manchester City to the Premier League title.
Nevertheless, while Bellingham was given the legendary No. 5 shirt at Real Madrid, famously worn by Zidane, Carragher does not see the former Borussia Dortmund star as that style of player.
Instead, the Liverpool legend has insisted Foden is more like Zizou because of his magnetic dribbling ability.
Writing in his column for the Telegraph, Carragher compared the two superstars by saying: "There is a swagger and self-confidence about Bellingham which has stood out since his England debut. Bellingham does not just walk on to a stage. He owns it.
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"Wherever he has been – whether Wembley or the Bernabeu – his demeanour has been, ‘Look at me. I’m here, and I’m going to dominate’.
"With regards to Foden, I am not sure England have ever had a similar style of player of such a level. Foden has more in common with the typical Spanish or Portuguese players, his technique setting him apart.
"The highest praise I can offer is whenever I watch Foden and see that first touch, control and balletic movement in tight spaces, the first players who spring to mind are Zinedine Zidane and Andres Iniesta.
"Foden has that same talent to run in possession as if he is slaloming, his boots with a magnetic attraction to the ball."
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Bellingham has had a sensational debut campaign at Real Madrid after joining from Dortmund in a deal that could be worth up to £114million.
While the 20-year-old arrived for big money and a big reputation, no one expected the youngster to have such an impact and in 40 appearances, he has scored 23 and assisted 12 in all competitions.
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Foden, meanwhile, has had his best personal season at City after the 23-year-old scored 27 times in 52 appearances, assisting 11.
Pep Guardiola has utilised the England international in an array of positions across the frontline including both flanks, up front and in attacking midfield.
Bellingham, meanwhile, has largely acted like a shadow striker under Carlo Ancelotti, ghosting into the box to tuck in goals as well as the odd screamer from outside the box.
Both have been used magnificently by their coaches and it will now be up to Southgate to get the best out of both to give England a chance at winning the European Championship this summer.
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Carragher added: "Whatever the set-up, picking Foden and Bellingham should never have been seen as a ‘problem’.
"With two of the best players of this – and any – England generation, the focus must be on how exciting it will be finding a solution."