Leicester City cult hero Danny Simpson has described a player who Manchester City sold for just £5million as “up there” among the best in his position.
Manchester City fans have been spoiled for choice when it comes to iconic players over the past 15 or so years.
Some of the best players in history have plied their trade at the Etihad Stadium, with quite a few statues of their likenesses outside the ground.
Danny Simpson has now spoken about one player who shone for City in his prime, saying he’s among the best this country has ever produced in his position.
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Kyle Walker in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal.
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Danny Simpson hails Kyle Walker but Ashley Cole deemed the best full-back in Premier League history
Simpson spoke to GRV Media podcast Beyond the Back Four this week, where he lifted the lid on his time at Manchester United and Leicester.
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The former Red Devils full-back spoke of how much he was inspired by Ashley Cole, prompting the host to ask whether he thought Cole was the best full-back in Premier League history.
Simpson name-dropped City legend Kyle Walker as one who’s “up there for what he’s done”, but ultimately decided on Cole being the best Premier League full-back of all time.
“Obviously I think in the moment you’ve got to put Kyle Walker up there for what he’s done and the trophies that he’s won,” said Simpson.
“But I think Ashley Cole changed [the full-back role] – for me not so much at the full-back position in England, then we started to see the likes of Patrice Evra come in.
“But before that, it was the solid right-back – Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Gabriel Heinze, these kinds of players.
“The likes of Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Lauren, all these solid full-backs, which is how the football was back then. But I think Ashley Cole changed that.
“Everything that he’s done, his performances in big games, his performances against Ronaldo and for England, for Arsenal and Chelsea…
“I would say he’s the best we’ve produced.”
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Kyle Walker’s Manchester City career
Walker was an absolute hero for City in his prime, to the point that many said he was one of the best full-backs in the world, if not the very best.
He made 319 appearances for City, registering six goals and 23 assists, and helped Pep Guardiola’s side win 17 trophies, including the 2022/23 Champions League and six Premier League titles.
However, Walker’s levels sadly dropped last season, and City decided to move him on in January, loaning him out to AC Milan.
This summer, City sold Walker to Burnley for just £5million, a move which gave the newly-promoted side a better chance of staying up in the top flight.