Kieran Trippier is one of the players who failed to make an impact at Manchester City but is doing extremely well now.
Kieran Trippier came through the Manchester City youth system, but he was unable to break into the first team.
After loan spells at Barnsley and Burnley, Trippier signed for the Clarets on a permanent basis in 2012.
The England international right-back went on to star for Tottenham Hotspur before winning the La Liga title with Atletico Madrid.
And despite being 33 years of age now, Trippier is starring for Newcastle United, both in the Premier League and in the UEFA Champions League.
And, let us not forget that Trippier is still part of the England set-up.
BBC Sports pundit Micah Richards trained with Trippier at Manchester City, and he has noted what was said among the players about the full-back at the time.
Richards has said that City made a huge mistake by letting Trippier go for good when he was just 21 years of age.
Micah Richards on Kieran Trippier at Manchester City
The pundit said about Trippier on The Rest is Football podcast: “I remember in training he was up against Adebayor and you know Adebayor always used to go to the left side and then hold it up and do some skills and what not.
“And every time, Adebayor got the ball he absolutely destroyed Trippier in a one-on-one situation. The manager at the time, I think it was Mancini.
“But what everyone didn’t know was the part of his game which was the best was going forward. So they were exploiting his weaknesses but not seeing his strengths.
“When he was allowed to go to Burnley I remember all the lads saying, ‘This is the biggest mistake ever’.
“Send him out on loan for a couple of seasons and when he fills out a bit – he is only small now, you can imagine back then – the technique that he had, the timing of his runs, the passing, the commitment he showed. I was like he is going to be a top player.
“So he goes to Burnley, gets record assists in the Championship, then he goes to Spurs and does amazing at Spurs, then he goes to Atletico Madrid and wins the league over there, comes back and does what he does for England.
“I just think he’s the most underrated full-back because of the quality that we have with Walker and Trent and Reece James.
“But if you need someone who is going to be consistent this is the best football I think I have ever seen him play and he’s two years younger than me, he’s 33. It’s just incredible.”
Don’t blame Manchester City for Kieran Trippier decision
Just because Manchester City made a decision to let Kieran Trippier leave when he was 21 just does not mean that we should criticise the club.
Yes, Trippier has had a brilliant career since being let go by City, but the Citizens were not to know that at the time.
City clearly thought that Trippier would not be a success for them.
While Trippier has been brilliant over the years, let us not pretend that City have not done well.
City are now the dominant force in English football who win the Premier League title season after season.
Last season, Pep Guardiola’s side won the UEFA Champions League.
City have not missed Trippier at all since offloading him for good in 2012.
