Pep Guardiola believes Kyle Walker has the same qualities as Champions League winners Philipp Lahm and Eric Abidal.
The Manchester City defender has made his name as an attacking full-back but was successfully deployed as a right-sided centre-back in a three-man defence in England's recent friendlies against Holland and Italy.
The switch of role came as a surprise to some but not City boss Guardiola, who was well aware of the 27-year-old's versatility.
Guardiola has seen such strengths in players before having worked at Barcelona with Abidal, who was equally comfortable at left-back and centre-half, and at Bayern Munich with Lahm, who switched from right-back to midfield.