A seat in the Royal Box and a summer without tournament football
Phil Foden spent Saturday afternoon at Wimbledon, sitting in the Royal Box on day six of the Championships. The 26-year-old was photographed alongside Marco van Basten, with Sir Gareth Southgate, Sir Chris Hoy and several Lionesses also among the sporting guests.
The timing matters. Foden is not in North America for the 2026 World Cup after Thomas Tuchel left him out of England's final squad — a decision that stunned plenty during the pre-tournament build-up.
Missing a major tournament is a psychological blow for any player. But from Manchester City's perspective, it hands Enzo Maresca something unusual: a fully rested, motivated senior star available from the very start of his tenure.
Most clubs spend summer watching their squads fragment across international camps. City get Foden back fresh, before the bulk of their international players return later this summer.
Maresca's immediate task is not complicated. Foden's talent has never been in question. The opportunity is about giving him structure, consistent minutes, and tactical responsibility — having a clean window to adapt to the new manager's principles before the Premier League season begins.
The imagery from SW19 suggests Foden is making the most of his rare downtime. When pre-season training steps up next week, the expectation is that a refreshed, motivated player reports for duty at the Etihad Campus.