So far this season, Fulham defender Antonee Robinson has proven to be one of the best left-backs in the Premier League, with his consistent performances for an excelling Cottagers side.
He was already seen as a top defender, but he has improved going forward too – with his 10 league assists only bettered by one of the Premier League’s best in Mohamed Salah this season.
Aside from his form for Fulham, he has managed to nail down the starting spot for the USA national team (USMNT) and is poised to be their first-choice left-back for the World Cup on home soil next summer. He could be in line to make his 51st cap when Mauricio Pochettino’s side play Panama later on this week.
In a recent interview, Antonee Robinson was asked to name who he thinks are the three best full-backs in the world at this moment in time.
Rather than bringing up numbers, or reputation, the defender was quite consistent in implying what he believes makes a top full-back, and would perhaps explain certain big-name absences from his top three.
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Robinson leaves Alexander-Arnold out of his top three full-backs
When asked the question, the 27-year-old told ESPN: “I think Theo Hernandez is up there. He can just do everything. Strong, powerful, decent defending, very good attacking. So he can do everything.
Similarly, [Alejandro] Grimaldo, based on when I’d seen him last season, you know, he’s more of a wing-back but again, he could do everything. And then, a right-back this time, I’ll go [Achraf] Hakimi. Again, just really powerful, up-and-down player who can do everything.”
So, no room for Trent Alexander-Arnold – a fellow Scouser of American descent – whom many would have as their number one pick, never mind top three.
The Liverpool right-back’s influence on the team was proven in his absence during the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday.
Ironically, he may well have been teammates with Hernandez at AC Milan. Back in January of 2020, Robinson – who was playing for then Championship side Wigan Athletic – had a medical with the Italian giants, but after a heart rhythm irregularity was discovered, a deal could not be completed.
Later on that year, he joined Fulham for £2m, taking advantage of the financial problems Wigan had at that time.
Fulham should make money on Robinson
Pretty safe to say that Fulham will get a lot more than £2m if they are to sell Robinson to a big English club at any point. The defender still has three years left on his contract, so there is absolutely no need to cash in at this moment.
Should the Cottagers secure a European spot this season, they will be in a position to demand even more money, whilst also keeping the player happy.
Even if he were to leave, the Cottagers have coped very well with the departures of key men such as Aleksandar Mitrovic and Joao Palhinha over the last couple of years, so you would feel confident in their recruitment to replace Robinson adequately.
The post Antonee Robinson snubs Trent Alexander-Arnold when naming the world’s best full-backs, picks man that ‘can do everything’ appeared first on HITC.
