Peter Crouch often gets abuse for being lanky but the Stoke striker is three inches shorter than the giant Serge Ibaka pictured at City’s Etihad Stadium this week.
However, new City striker Alvaro Negredo (a mere 6ft 1in) shouldn’t worry about the competition for places just yet as NBA ace Ibaka was checking out the Citizens stadium while he was in town for an NBA 3X event at City Square this weekend.
He said: “It was great to have a look around the Etihad, it is a fantastic stadium and City’s locker room is amazing.
“I haven’t watched a lot of City but to hear about the title-win was inspiring. In the NBA we have buzzer beaters but to win a title with two goals in just a few minutes must have been an incredible feeling.
“I’ve played a bit of soccer, it is a great game. I think I’d be a striker but I know City have already got a good number 9 and he’s Spanish too so I’ll leave the goalscoring to him.
“My favourite City player is Yaya Toure. He played for Barcelona while I was out there and he’s a fantastic player, it’s always good to see him do well.”
Serge, a Spanish international who plays power forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder, will be back in Manchester later this year for the Thunder’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Manchester Arena as part of NBA Global Games 2013 on October 8th.
– The Thunder take on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Manchester Arena as part of NBA Global Games 2013 on October 8th. Tickets are available from www.eventim.co.uk
