Former Middlesbrough defender Ritchie De Laet says nothing will beat the day he won promotion in 2016.

The Belgian 31-year-old has been looking ahead to the crucial Champions League qualification decider between two of his old teams - Leicester City and Manchester United.

Now with Royal Antwerp, De Laet was a double medal-winner in the 2015/16 season spending the first half of the campaign with eventual champions Leicester and the second on loan with Middlesbrough.

And he says whoever comes out on top at the King Power, nothing will top his double joy four years ago when the Foxes lifted the Premier League trophy and Boro drew with Brighton to secure automatic promotion.

“My last day was just crazy, nothing could beat that,” De Laet told The Star.

“Celebrating promotion with Boro then making it to Leicester to get my medal. I was so tired I missed both parties.”

Looking ahead to today’s game, he added: “I can’t wait for this one. If I was going to choose a winner it would be United because of the run they’re on.

“If I’m honest I never thought he’d be in charge of United so quickly (Ole Gunnar Solskjaer) but he’s done a good job to get the club into this position on the last day.”

On Leicester’s ambitions, De Laet said: “It’ll be massive for Vards (Jamie Vardy) and a reward for the loyalty he showed Leicester after winning the title. Another crack at Champions League would be big for him.”

Manchester United are third in the table and Leicester are fifth. A win for City would guarantee Champions League qualification but a draw would leave them sweating on the out come of Chelsea's home clash with Wolves.

De Laet made 10 appearances for Boro after his deadline day loan move from  Leicester.