NOBODY likes a bargain more than me and I’d like to think I’ve discovered my fair share over the years.
But if I had to name the best of them all, I would struggle to beat the young right-back I signed from Sheffield United during my time as Tottenham manager.
two
There were actually two of them, and at £9 million for the pair, it was the best deal I’ve ever done – because for me, one of them is now the best in the world. He’s been there for years.
And this afternoon he will – barring a miracle – win the Premier League title as captain of the Manchester City team, which makes history by winning it for the fourth consecutive season.
It’s amazing to look back now and think that some people couldn’t understand why I signed Kyle Walker AND Kyle Naughton in July 2009.
Naughton, 20 at the time, was easier to understand because he was a regular starter, but the other Kyle had only played a few games.
I remember calling Sam Ellis, who worked at Sheffield United, and he had no doubts that I should get them.
The only thing I didn’t know was who would be the better of the two.
Naughton was very good on the ball, while Walker – just 19 at the time – was more dynamic and had speed to burn.
They were both loaned out and that did Walker a lot of good.
He started the 2011-12 campaign as my first-choice right-back and finished as PFA Young Player of the Year and in the PFA Team of the Year.
Spurs got good value for money when they sold him for £50m – and the same goes for City.
There are so many stars at the Etihad that Walker rarely makes the headlines and it will be the same today if they win the title.
But never doubt how important Kyle was again this season.
And that rhythm? He’s so fast it’s scary. Not many people leave Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr like he did.
I thought you were supposed to slow down as you got older, but with him it’s the opposite.
Full-back, centre-back in a back three… you can put him anywhere.
And when it comes to leaders, he is also a top man because City were under pressure this time.
The fact that Arsenal still had a chance on the final day tells me that manager Mikel Arteta couldn’t have done much more – but City simply don’t make mistakes at this stage.
There’s no doubt this is one of the Premier League’s great teams – although I’m not convinced they’re the best of all time.
Sir Alex Ferguson had fantastic teams at Manchester United and they have something to say about it!
Man for man, would City beat Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham? Do they have a better centre-back pairing than Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic?
I’ve been asked this many times and my answer hasn’t changed… but it would certainly be quite a game!
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
