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'Man City players called Silva Merlin the Wizard' - Given hails former team-mate as Premier League great

In an exclusive interview with Goal, the ex-City goalkeeper hails the Spain attacking midfielder as one of English football's best ever imports

If Manchester City ace David Silva leaves England this summer, he will depart having proven himself one of the greatest foreign players in Premier League history, according to Shay Given.

The former goalkeeper was still plying his trade at the Etihad Stadium when Silva arrived from Valencia in 2010 for £25 million ($31m).

Given says the World Cup winner's natural talent was obvious to the rest of the squad from the moment he first set foot on the training pitch, so the Irishman was not in the least bit surprised to see Silva go on to lift four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups with City.