Manchester: England right back Kyle Walker has said he joined Manchester City from Tottenham Hotspur to win trophies, with the North London side sometimes lacking the edge to get over the line.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs have come close to clinching their first top division league title since 1961 but could only finish in the top three during the last two seasons. They are yet to win a major trophy since the League Cup triumph in 2008.
“I am hoping with the world-class players we have here that we will go and lift a trophy, which is what I want to do in my career,” Walker told the BBC.
“I was unfortunate at Tottenham. We made it so close in the last two seasons, it was just that sometimes we were unlucky. Sometimes we just didn’t have that little bit of edge.
“I needed a new challenge. This would have been my ninth season at Tottenham. Sometimes you need to come out of your comfort zone a little bit.” Walker, who was signed by City for 50 million pounds (Dh237.8 million), according to British media reports, said he was excited to work with former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola.
“The manager was a big thing for me (coming to City). I wanted to come and play under him,” the 27-year-old added.
“He’s worked with Dani Alves and all the top players at Barcelona, plus (Philipp) Lahm at Bayern Munich, that was a big attraction for me.” Walker is set to face his former teammates on July 29 when City meet Spurs in a pre-season friendly in Nashville.
City, who finished third in the Premier League last season, visit newcomers Brighton and Hove Albion in the opening game of the new campaign on August 12.
But the defensive signings are unlikely to stop with Walker.
City are also close to signing Real Madrid full-back Danilo, according to widespread media reports on Thursday.
Pep Guardiola made full-backs his top transfer priority in the close season having released Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, and Brazilian international Danilo is on the verge of joining Walker as City’s latest recruit in that position.
The deal for the 26-year-old is expected to cost the Premier League side around #26 million ($33.7 million, 29.3 million euros).
Danilo, who joined European champions Real in 2015 from Porto, started just 17 Spanish league games last season with Dani Carvajal often preferred in the right back role.
The Spanish international started ahead of Danilo in the Champions League final in Cardiff as Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1 to lift their 12th European Cup.
Chelsea are also believed to be keen on securing the Brazilian’s signature, but City — who are also chasing Monaco full-back Benjamin Mendy — remain favourites to complete a deal.
