Kyle Walker has suggested that one right-back in world football is quicker than him.
Not many right-backs in recent history can claim to have the pace Kyle Walker has had since the start of his career.
In the Premier League, perhaps the only name one could raise in the past decade is former Manchester United star Antonio Valencia.
Kyle Walker suggests one right-back in the world is quicker than him
But apart from the Ecuadorian international, who was converted into a right-back after initially being a winger, not many other names come to mind.
The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James are not renowned for their pace.
Even though James has the required level of pace to keep up with speedy wingers.
While building his perfect right-back, Manchester City captain Kyle Walker suggested that Achraf Hakimi might be faster than him.
In the latest episode of BBC’s You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker, he said: “I think if I was to build one, I’d go my pace. Or my strength in fact, [Achraf] Hakimi’s pace, [Joao] Cancelo’s technical ability, Trent’s [Alexander-Arnold] passing, [Dani] Carvajal’s mentality and I think Reece James’ football brain because he played in midfield for a long time.”
“But if I was to round all them up, I’d say it’d be Reece because he gives us a little bit of everything.”
Hakimi is the only right-back who could compete with Walker in this regard
In our view, Achraf Hakimi is the only right-back in the world who can claim to be mentioned in the same breath as Kyle Walker when it comes to his pace.
At the Qatar World Cup, the Moroccan defender famously kept up with Kylian Mbappe in a footrace.
In the Champions League this season as well, particularly against Borussia Dortmund, Hakimi was often seen darting forward in no time when making his signature runs.
However, one would argue that Kyle Walker remains quicker than Achraf Hakimi, especially over long distances.
Walker has an advantage over many other players in world football in this regard, which makes him a more reliable defender than Hakimi.
The fact that the 34-year-old’s pace is comparable to a right-back who is eight years younger than him speaks volumes of how incredible his pace is.