Kyle Walker opens up on exit talks with Pep Guardiola after leaving Man City to join Milan on loan – and reveals it was NOT a ‘comfortable conversation’
- Kyle Walker joined AC Milan on loan after admitting he wanted to leave Man City
- The England right-back admitted the move was the ‘opportunity he wanted’
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Kyle Walker has opened up on the moment he told Pep Guardiola about his wish to leave Manchester City, admitting it ‘wasn’t a very comfortable conversation’.
The England right-back, who has played an integral role for City under Guardiola since joining the club in 2017 from Tottenham Hotspur, admitted earlier this month that he wished to ‘explore opportunities abroad’ — and has now secured a loan exit to Serie A champions AC Milan ahead of the January transfer deadline.
City’s captain, who lifted the club’s fourth successive title last campaign and was a crucial part of Guardiola’s Treble-winning team the season prior, endured a torrid decline in form at the start of this term, ultimately losing his place in the side.
In total, Walker has only started nine of City’s 23 Premier League matches so far this season, making way for the likes of Rico Lewis and even midfielder Matheus Nunes in the right-back position.
Opening up on his Manchester City exit during a press conference in Milan, Walker said: ‘When I spoke with Pep, it wasn’t a very comfortable conversation – mainly because of the respect we have for each other.
‘What he’s won at Manchester City, I’ve won it too. I like to think he knows what I bring to a dressing room, the atmosphere I create.
Kyle Walker opened up on the talk he had with Pep Guardiola about wanting to leave Man City
He completed his loan move to AC Milan last week after admitting his wish for a new challenge
Walker has played an integral role for City under Pep Guardiola since joining the club in 2017
‘City was my family – from the cooks to the cleaners, the kit men and physios. I like to think I was liked and helped everyone blend in.
‘But things weren’t going well there and I wasn’t playing enough football. Hopefully I can play a bit more here.’
Walker is widely-regarded as one of the Premier League’s best ever players in his position, having won six titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and one Champions League during his eight-year spell at the Etihad.
Despite wanting to leave, the 34-year-old defender urged that he would have remained at the Etihad and given his all, even if a suitable club was not found by the close of the window.
‘I could have stayed in Manchester, I would have honoured the contract if they hadn’t let me leave because that’s me as a person,’ he added.
‘But It comes down to challenges where you think “ok I need to try something different”.
‘I’ve spoken to many ex-players who never moved abroad and told me they wished they had. If it hadn’t been a big club I’d have stayed with City.
‘There are only certain clubs you can’t say no to and this was the opportunity I wanted, I had a gut feeling.’
The 34-year-old England right-back (left), pictured with AC Milan legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right), admitted that the loan move to the Serie A club was the ‘opportunity he wanted’
Erling Haaland (left) and Phil Foden (right) inspired City to a 3-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday
City triumphed 3-1 over top four rivals Chelsea on Saturday to take an important leap back into the Champions League qualification places, level on points with Newcastle below them.
The Premier League champions face Club Brugge in a huge Champions League clash on Wednesday night, with City needing a win at the very least to qualify for the play-off phase.
