Phil Foden has left England’s squad at the Euros as he flies home to attend the birth of his third child with girlfriend Rebecca Cooke.
The Manchester City midfielder had started all three of England’s group stage games at Euro 2024 as they topped Group C with five points.
The absence is expected to be ‘temporary’ and the belief is that he will return to the England camp in due course.
His decision to return home in the middle of the tournament is a reflection of the relationship the 24-year-old has with his family.
A source close to the star told MailOnline: ‘Phil is very close to his family, particularly his parents. They, along with Rebecca, have been a constant source of support for Ronnie when he has felt the pressure and when things have got tough.’
But it has not all been plain sailing for the current Premier League player of the year, as he was not without controversy as he broke through into senior football.
In 2021, Foden alongside his Manchester City and England teammate Jack Grealish were dropped to the bench by manager Pep Guardiola as a disciplinary action over their off-pitch antics following a mid-week night out.
However the young starlight was able to successfully maintain his career following the incident and stay on the right path, focusing on football instead of the having a crazy social life.
During that time, it looked as though Foden’s career could potentially be heading in the wrong direction but thanks to the support and guidance of Rebecca and the close relationship he shares with both his parents, the Englishman stayed on the right tracks.
His father Phil snr, who is funnily enough a Manchester United fan, manages his son’s career, while his mother Claire is applauded and credited for keeping the young stars feet planted firmly on the ground.
Speaking of what Phil was like growing up, Claire said that he was ‘the cheapest kid ever’, saying Foden’s childhood was: ‘No games, no toys, nothing, just a football.’
Foden growing wealth and status as one of the best young footballer’s in the world has transformed the fortunes of his entire family and he even bought a £3million, six-bed gated house in an upmarket Cheshire village for his parents.
The house is perfectly located within walking distance from his own £2.85million home which he shares with his partner Rebecca and their two children, son Ronnie and daughter True.
Another to benefit from the Foden’s success is his paternal grandmother, Mary, 63, for whom Foden bought a £200,000 bay-fronted house just up the road from where he grew up.
Mary’s partner is actually the person who inspired the England man’s infamous Manchester City squad number.
His number pays honour and gratitude to his grandfather Walter, who tragically passed away at the age of 47.
Foden has spoken often about how grateful he is to his family and has even talked about feeling the pressure to use his wages to repay his parents for their support and dedication to him.
In an interview with Esquire magazine, he encapsulated the reasons for his success on and off the pitch, saying: ‘I wanted to be able to look after my family. ‘But my job was just to keep focused on the game. My aim was to just enjoy myself.’
